New Zealand on top in second Pakistan Test

Pakistan reached 125-5 at lunch on day five of the second and final Test of the series against New Zealand in Karachi. 

The home side lost three important wickets in the morning session, with skipper Babar Azam (27), Shan Masood (35) and Imam-ul-Haq (12) all back in the hut. 

Pakistan were in deep trouble at 80-5 but Sarfaraz Ahmed (29 not out) and Saud Shakeel (16 not out) added unbeaten 45 runs to provide some stability to the home side. 

Michael Bracewell and Ish Sodhi have claimed two wickets each, meanwhile Tim Southee has one scalp to his name. 

Yesterday, Pakistan started disastrously by losing two wickets without scoring after New Zealand set them a bold target of 319 to win the second Test.

Skipper Tim Southee dismissed opener Abdullah Shafique with the second ball of Pakistan´s second innings before Ish Sodhi bowled nightwatchman Mir Hamza in the last over of the fourth day.

A loss would be their third series defeat at home in a season after going down 1-0 to Australia and 3-0 to England earlier this year.

No team has chased more than 314 to win a Test in Pakistan, which the home team achieved against Australia in Karachi 1994.

The first of the two-match series — also in Karachi — ended in a draw.