Middle-order batter Saud Shakeel hit a solid half-century as Pakistan reach 198-4 at stumps against England on day three Sunday.

He is not out in 54, while all-rounder Faheem Ashraf scored three when the umpires called it the day at the Multan Cricket Stadium. The left-hander struck five boundaries for his half-century.

Pakistan still require 157 runs to level the three-match series with six wickets in hand. No team has ever successfully chased more than 314 in Pakistan, a target reached by the home team against Australia in Karachi in 1994.

In reply to 355-run target, the hosts went off to a solid start thanks to Mohammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique. Both openers were at the crease on 34 and 28 respectively at lunch.

Rizwan was cleaned up when the game resumed after lunch courtesy of a brilliant out-swinging delivery from James Anderson.

Skipper Babar Azam (1) was undone by an in-swinger from Mark Wood. He tired to left the ball, which pitched way outside off, but it rattled into the stumps. Shafique played beautifully for his 45. He was cleaned up by Wood, who has not claimed two wickets in the innings.

Imam ul Haq, who was taken to the hospital for MRI scans after he felt unease in his right hamstring, came roaring back. He stuck seven boundaries for his fighting 60. Jack Leach ended his long resistance on the crease.

Earlier, spinner Abrar Ahmed took 11 wickets for 234 across the two innings as Pakistan bowled England out for 275.

This was the second best figures by a Pakistan bowler on debut, behind Mohammad Zahid’s 11-130 against New Zealand in Rawalpindi 26 years ago.

England’s Harry Brook top-scored with 108. He smashed spinner Mohammad Nawaz for his 14th boundary to complete his second century of the series, having notched 153 runs in the first Test.

He also struck a six before being caught off spinner Zahid Mahmood, who took 3-52.

England resumed at 202-5 and added 73 runs before folding an hour before lunch. Ben Stokes made 41 and added 101 for the sixth wicket with Brook before England lost their last five wickets for just 19 runs.

Ahmed’s second innings figures were 4-120.