Ross Taylor hit a return-to-form half-century to help New Zealand recover after Sarfraz Ahmed hit a fighting hundred for Pakistan on day four of the second Test in Dubai.

Taylor was 77 not out to help his team recover from a shaky 4-79 to close Thursday on 6-167, having an overall lead of 177 with four wickets intact.

Mark Craig (nought) was in Taylor’s company as New Zealand will seek a series-levelling win in the three-Test series on an intriguing final day.

Pakistan won the first Test by 248 runs in Abu Dhabi last week.

Sarfraz’s 112 led Pakistan’s fightback as they managed 393 in their first innings in reply to New Zealand’s 403, conceding a slender 10-run lead.

Pakistani spinners Zulfiqar Babar (3-60) and Yasir Shah (3-65) had jolted New Zealand but Taylor stood firm.

Babar removed Brendon McCullum (45), Kane Williamson (11) and Jimmy Neesham (11) in another display of beguiling left-arm spin on a Dubai stadium pitch which is taking notable turn.

Yasir Shah dismissed Tom Latham (nine), Corey Anderson (nought) and BJ Watling (11).

McCullum hit six fours in his 62-ball knock and when on 39 became New Zealand’s second top Test run-scorer, overhauling Martin Crowe’s 5,444 runs in 77 Tests.

Stephen Fleming is first with 7,172 runs in 111 Tests while McCullum now has 5,451 runs in 89 Tests.

Taylor added 46 with Jimmy Neesham (11) and hit Babar for a boundary to complete his fifty and then added 41 for the sixth with Watling.

Earlier, Pakistan owed their fightback to Sarfraz’s third Test hundred – all scored this year.

He was last man out in the second over after lunch from McCullum, hitting 16 fours in a 215-minute stay, his innings balancing the match after New Zealand looked set for a big lead.

Sarfraz added a record 81 runs for the tenth wicket stand with Rahat Ali (16 not out).

Sarfraz said he was delighted to help his team.

“Its nice to score a hundred,” said Sarfraz. “If we can get their last four wickets early then we can chase down the target.”

Resuming at 6-281, Pakistan lost Yasir Shah in the third over of the day to paceman Tim Southee (3-67) while Trent Boult (2-69) was also amongst the wickets.

The third and final Test begins in Sharjah on November 26.