New Zealand bowlers took a couple of rain and hail shower delays in their stride and slowly broke down Pakistan’s stubborn resistance to help the hosts take control of the first Test on Monday.

Faheem Ashraf was dismissed for 91, his highest Test score, just before the close of the third day’s play at Bay Oval as Pakistan were bowled out for 239, still 192 runs behind New Zealand’s 431. Kyle Jamieson was instrumental in pegging back Pakistan with 3/35.

The tourists had been facing the prospect of being asked to bat again after captain Mohammad Rizwan was sensationally run out by Mitchell Santner for 71 to end a 107-run partnership with Faheem that left them 187/7 with about an hour to play.

Faheem saw them past the follow-on and surpassed his previous highest score of 83 against Ireland before he was dismissed with five minutes left in the day’s play.

Brief scores: New Zealand 431. Pakistan 239 (F. Ashraf 91, M. Rizwan 71; K. Jamieson 3/35). At stumps, Day III.