NEW ZEALAND faces a massive challenge after being set mammoth target of 405 runs to win the second test against Pakistan at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.

After dismissing the visitors for 239 just before tea, the Black Caps shook off another poor start to be 70 for three at stumps on day three, a whopping 335 runs behind.

Pakistan began the day with a solid lead of 229, with Mohammed Yousuf and Misbah ul-Haq (33) at the crease.

A captain’s knock by Yousuf (83) and an extravagant innings by young gun Umar Akmal (52) kept the big crowd quiet and almost put the match beyond doubt.

However, Chris Martin, Iain O’Brien and Grant Elliot led a strong New Zealand fightback, with the latter surprising many by snaring two wickets in his first over.

The trio ripped through the Pakistani order as the visitors lost their last seven wickets for 42 runs.

Martin finished with four for 52, while O’Brien and Elliot took four for 66 and two for eight respectively.

The New Zealand reply began brightly, with openers Tim MacIntosh and Martin Guptill  surviving the first over for the first time in the series.

But Mohammed Asif brought an end to the sarcastic cheers, dismissing both McIntosh (2) and Guptill (15).

He also removed Daniel Flynn (20), who for the second time failed to kick on in the twenties, to finish with figures of three for 19.

An out-of-form Peter Fulton (12) and the consistent Ross Taylor (15) – who both received lifelines from dropped catches – looked determined to stick around as they saw the home side through to the end of the day.