England took two quick wickets on Sunday after setting Pakistan a challenging target of 343 for victory with a day to play in a high-scoring first Test in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan lost Abdullah Shafiq (six) and captain Babar Azam (four) in their second innings before Imam-ul-Haq (43) and Saud Shakeel (24) finished at the crease at 80-2.
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Earlier, Harry Brook scored a blistering 87 as England batted aggressively in their second innings before declaring at 264-7.
Debutant spinner Will Jacks took a career-best 6-161 as England eventually bowled Pakistan out for 579 in reply to a mammoth first innings score of 657.
Seeking Pakistan’s ten wicket haul in a maximum of 130 overs, England showed their intent early and Ollie Robinson soon dismissed opener Shafiq – who had scored a century in the first innings.
In the same over he hit Azhar Ali with a sharp, rising delivery, forcing him to retire with an injured finger.
Stokes then got the prized wicket of Pakistan captain Azam, which landed safely in the hands of keeper Ollie Pope – shocking the holiday crowd of 14,200.
But Haq – who had also scored a century in the first innings – shared a 55-run partnership with Shakeel for the third wicket.
England assistant coach Paul Collingwood said the match was “well balanced”.
“We believe we can do it. The boys have shown they will come up with different plans and different ways to get there.”
“If Pakistan knocks runs, they deserve to win.”
Agha Salman of Pakistan also kept positive thinking.
“Our aim is to win matches, no matter what the pitch is like,” he added.
The second session belonged to England, adding 218 runs before declaring when Naseem Shah was bowled by Brook in the last over before tea.
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