Pak's Asif, Aamer rout New Zealand on Day 4

All three results are still possible heading into the final day of the first Test between New Zealand and Pakistan after Mohammad Asif claimed a four-wicket haul to lift the tourists.

Having finally been dismissed for 332 to hand New Zealand a first innings lead of 97, Pakistan hit back in fine style to leave the hosts 147-8 at stumps on day four.

That means New Zealand now find themselves 244 ahead, although it will be Pakistan who will fancy they have the slight edge heading into day five.

With Pakistan resuming on 307-8, Shane Bond quickly secured his fifth five-wicket Test haul as the Black Caps mopped up Pakistan's tail inside the first half-hour on Friday morning.

Asif added 10 runs to the total before edging Chris Martin to second slip, while Mohammad Aamer became Bond's fifth victim as he holed out to Daniel Vettori at mid on.

Pakistan then made rapid inroads with the ball as Aamer accounted for Martin Guptill and Daniel Flynn in his first two overs.

Indeed, New Zealand found themselves 0-2 as both Guptill and Flynn departed for ducks, the former bowled and the latter trapped leg before.

Ross Taylor and Tim McIntosh put on 87 for the third wicket to steady the ship before the fluent Taylor (59) was needlessly run out having compiled his second half-century of the match.

But that dismissal sparked a clatter of wickets as Peter Fulton, McIntosh and Brendon McCullum went in quick succession in the middle session to leave the hosts struggling at 115-6 when rain forced an early tea.

Skipper Daniel Vettori was unable to repeat his heroics of the first innings, going for eight shortly after play resumed to become Asif's third victim.

After another spell off for bad light Bond (seven) became Asif's fourth scalp when he played onto his stumps, but Grant Elliott (20 not out) and Iain O'Brien (four no) were standing firm when bad light forced the players off the field again for the final time at 7pm local time.

Brief scores: New Zealand 429 (D L Vettori 99, L R P L Taylor 94, B B McCullum 78, M J Guptill 60, Mohammad Asif 4-108) & 147-8 (L R P L Taylor 59, Mohammad Asif 4-41) v Pakistan 332 (Umar Akmal 129, Kamran Akmal 82, S E Bond 5-113)