Pakistan were made to fight hard to save the first Test as England pushed for an unlikely victory on the fifth and final day in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Pakistan, who were 29-2 at lunch, progressed to 102-3 at tea with Younis Khan (40) and Misbah-ul-Haq (25) encountering aggressive field settings and incisive bowling from paceman James Anderson on a weary Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch.
Pakistan now lead by 27 runs with seven wickets intact and need to bat out a possible 42 more overs to avoiding handing England the chance to bat for victory in the three-match series.
England took a 75-run lead in the first innings after declaring at 598-9.
Younis and Misbah came together with Pakistan in trouble at 47-3 after opener Mohammad Hafeez was run out for 34, failing to beat an excellent throw by Ben Stokes from the covers while taking a sharp single.
Pakistan could have been 87-4 when Australian umpire Bruce Oxenford ruled Misbah out caught off Anderson but the batsman, on 19, challenged the decision which was over-ruled by TV umpire Sundaram Ravi on India.
It was Anderson (2-30) who enlivened an otherwise dull Test by taking two wickets in an over before lunch.
Anderson dismissed opener Shan Masood (one) and Shoaib Malik (nought) in the third over to leave Pakistan wobbling at 3-2.
Masood, who was bowled after a short delivery from Anderson deflected onto the stumps from the grill of his helmet in the first innings, played on to the same bowler.
Malik, who scored a career best 245 in the first knock, lasted three deliveries before Anderson's bouncer surprised him as his evasive shot landed safely in Jonny Bairstow's hands.
Younis also survived a shaky start, but Hafeez, fresh from his 98 in the first knock, hit four boundaries and a six before his dismissal.
Earlier, England, resuming at 569-8, lost Adil Rashid for 12 in the seventh over of the day, bowled by paceman Imran Khan, who finished with 2-74.
Stuart Broad (17) and Anderson (three) remained unbeaten as England batted for a marathon 206 overs on a flat pitch, with skipper Alastair Cook knocking an epic 263 on Friday.
Left-arm paceman Wahab Riaz was the pick of Pakistan bowlers with 3-125 while spinner Zulfiqar Babar finished with 1-183 off 72 overs.
