Pakistan were in a strong position to win the second Test and level the series after removing both England openers on a tricky Multan pitch on Thursday with spinner Sajid Khan their hero.
The hosts set England a daunting target of 297 before Sajid dismissed Ben Duckett (nought) and fellow spinner Noman Ali had Zak Crawley (three) to leave England on 36-2 after a captivating day three.
Ollie Pope and Joe Root were unbeaten on 21 and 12 respectively with 261 still needed for victory and two days left.
Noman said cracks on the pitch — the same used in the first Test, which the visitors won by an innings — will make England’s task tougher.
“We are getting good spin from the rough patches as well as from the middle so it will be a tough chase and we will do everything to win this Test,” said Noman.
England assistant coach Paul Collingwood still believes that his fearless side can do “special things” despite being up against it.
“It’s going to be a tough chase tomorrow on what is effectively probably the ninth day on that wicket,” said the former England allrounder.
“Realistically it’s going to be a tough chase but this team’s capable of some special things, it’s got some batters in there who can put bowlers under pressure in these kinds of conditions.”
Pakistan made 221 in their second innings to go with their first-innings 366 and give them a handy lead.
Middle-order batsman Salman Agha scored 63 and together with Sajid (22) lifted the home side from a precarious 134-5 with a ninth-wicket stand of 65.
Spinners Shoaib Bashir (4-66) and Jack Leach (3-67) had given the visitors the sniff of another victory but England did not help themselves, dropping Agha on four and then six.
In the end, it was Brydon Carse (2-29) who dismissed Agha, caught in the slip, before fellow pacer Matthew Potts had Sajid to wrap up the innings.
Earlier, off-spinner Sajid took 7-111, his second five-wicket haul, to bowl England out for 291.
Despite a rocky start in their chase, Collingwood says England have what it takes to win the Test and wrap up the series with a match to play.
But he cautioned: “We’ve got to be realistic, it’s a tough ask.”
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