ARecord-breaking Yasir Shah had to share the day's honours with New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson on Thursday as the third and final Test heads towards a gripping final day in Abu Dhabi.

The early part of the morning belonged to Yasir who collected the one wicket he needed to become the fastest man to reach 200 wickets in Test cricket.

The rest of the day, however, belonged to Williamson who played a masterly innings, and was 139 not out as the Kiwis reached 272-4 by the close.

Williamson had great support from Henry Nicholls who made 90 not out during an unbroken fifth wicket partnership of 212 that has given New Zealand a lead of 198 with six wickets remaining.

With the series tied at 1-1, the final day of this last Test promises to be fascinating with both sides capable of winning.

The day began in high anticipation with New Zealand resuming at 26-2 and Yasir taking the ball to bowl the third over and he trapped nightwatchman Will Somerville leg before for four with his 13th delivery of the day, he reached the 200-wicket mark in just his 33rd Test.

Pakistan had hopes of an emphatic win once Shaheen Shah Afridi had Ross Taylor caught hooking for 22 with the total at 60-4.

But they were undone by Williamson's masterclass and an innings from Nicholls that grew in confidence but, like his partner, enjoyed a touch of luck.

Williamson, who scored 89 in the first innings, drove Hasan Ali to the cover boundary for his 12th four to complete a well deserved 19th Test century — his second against Pakistan.

Nicholls  was dropped on 50 by Imam-ul-Haq off a luckless Yasir. He has so far hit eight boundaries.

Their partnership has improved the previous fifth-wicket record against Pakistan of 183 set by Mark Burgess and Robert Anderson in Lahore in 1976.

Yasir has figures of 2-107 while Shaheen has taken 2-55.