Pakistan continued to edge towards a New Zealand Invitation 11's first innings of 234 on the second day of their three-day cricket tour match in Queenstown today, reaching 211 for six at tea.
Content to indulge in batting practice in what is their only warm-up match ahead of the first test starting in Dunedin next Tuesday, Pakistan barely broke a sweat as they advanced from 14 for one.
New test opener Fawad Alam made the most of the acclimatisation exercise, topscoring with 77 after dropping down at spot to No 3.
Alam, yet to score at stumps yesterday, displayed plenty of application and occasionally attacking intent at Queenstown Events Centre, facing 145 balls and striking 10 boundaries.
Opener Imran Farhat registered the tourist's first half-century on when progressing to 52 before exiting near lunch but the middle order could only provide middling contributions as the Invitation bowling attack offered little latitude.
The run rate was kept to about 3.3 per over for the two sessions until tea Pakistan were intent on crease occupation.
Farhat and Alam added 97 for the second wicket, the most substantial stand of the innings.
Tarun Nethula made key incisions in the middle sessions as Alam and Umar Akmal, who made 21, prodded return catches to the Auckland legspinner in quick succession.
Nethula had two for 35 from six overs while Tim Southee returned two for 46 from 13 overs as he bids a place in the test line-up.
Faisal Iqbal, on four, and wicketkeeper Safraz Ahmed, 11, were the not out batsmen at the break.
NZPA