Pakistan set a target of 297 for England to win the second Test after spinners Shoaib Bashir and Jack Leach combined seven wickets to take Pakistan out for 221 on the third day in Multan.
Joe Root and Ollie Pop will resume batting for England tomorrow (Friday) on Day 4 of the match.
Salman Ali Agha (63) and Sajid Khan (22) put up a 65-run ninth-wicket partnership that pulled Pakistan from a dangerous 134-5, but Bashir ended with 4-66 and Leach took 3-67.
In addition to taking the crucial wicket of wicketkeeper-turned-batsman Mohammad Rizwan in the 31st over, Brydon Carse dismissed Salman’s innings in the 58th over.
On a ground that was previously utilized for the first Test, Pakistani off-spinner Sajid bowled England out for 291 with a 7-111, his second five-wicket haul.
Then, England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir unleashed three massive punches to keep England in the match on a track where the ball turned quickly and it was hard to make shots.
Because of the quality of the surface, England captain Ben Stokes started with spin at both ends, substituting left-arm spinner Jack Leach for off-spinner Bashir.
While Leach had to be refreshed, Stokes maintained his spin, forcing Joe Root, a part-time off-spinner, into action.
When Bashir got Pakistani opener Abdullah Shafique behind for four, it was the first casualty. Replays verified the smallest of edges after England successfully challenged the first not-out ruling.
