Opener Imam ul Haq and debutant Saud Shakeel made a 55-run stand for the third wicket as Pakistan reach 80/2 at stumps on day four.

England set Pakistan an imposing target of 343 runs to win the opening Test in Rawalpindi after declaring their second innings at 264-7 on Sunday.

In replay, Pakistan suffered early blows in the shape of Abdullah Shafique and captain Babar Azam’s wickets. The duo contributed six and four respectively.

Azhar Ali had a knock on his finger and had to walk back retired-hurt without troubling the scorers.

However, Imam and Shakeel played beautifully as they smashed 12 boundaries combined to bring the hosts back into the game.

At stumps, Imam was batting on 43, while Shakeel scored 24. Pakistan need 263 runs to win the game with eight wickets in hand.

Earlier, Harry Brook struck a fiery 65-ball 87 before he was dismissed by Naseem Shah at the stroke of tea, with England skipper Ben Stokes signalling the declaration.

England made 657 in their first innings before blowing Pakistan out for 579.

It was a busy day for Naseem as he caught the catch of Ollie Pope at the deep back square leg. The right handed batter tried to play a pull shot on pacer Mohammad Ali’s bounce delivery but could not clear the fence and got out on the boundary.

Hosts made 579 all out in reply to tourists’ first innings total of 657 on day four of the opening test in Rawalpindi on Sunday.

Openers Abdullah Shafique (114) and Imam-ul-Haque (121) and skipper Babar Azam (136) struck hundreds for the home side on a batting-friendly track.

Off-spinner Will Jacks claimed 6-161 in his debut test for England who are on their first test tour of Pakistan since 2005.

Pakistan seamer Haris Rauf batted but will not be able to bowl in the remainder of the match due to a strain in his right quad.