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Dubai: Joe Root took the attack to the Pakistan bowlers with an enterprising half-century to guide England to 182-3 at close of play on the second day of the second Test in Dubai on Friday.
Cook was caught for 65 but Root was unbeaten on 76 when bad light stopped play with the match evenly poised.
England captain Cook looks to be back to his redoubtable best at the top of the order and he underlined his enduring class with another vital contribution.
But having brought up his 45th Test half-century, Cook would have been disappointed by the manner of his dismissal: lazily gliding a catch to leg slip off the bowling of Yasir Shah when he appeared set.
Root meanwhile is becoming England's man for a crisis, and after arriving at the crease with England in trouble, as he often did during the Ashes, he once again showed maturity to wrest back the initiative.
Playing with a typically assertive tempo - Root's Test strike rate in 2015 is 67 - he added 113 with Cook, before partnering Jonny Bairstow (27 not out) to see England through to the close.
Earlier, the bowlers produced an excellent morning session in Dubai to reduce the hosts from a strong position of 282-4 overnight to 378 all out.
Mark Wood claimed two wickets to finish with 3-39, while Asad Shafiq hit 83.
Moeen Ali chipped in with two important wickets in the morning to record figures of 3-108 but he fared less well with the bat, caught at short leg for one in his second chance alongside Cook at the top of the order.
Under-pressure batsman Ian Bell followed soon after, out for four to leave England in trouble at 14-2, but after Cook and Root's fine rebuilding job, the tourists will be confident of challenging Pakistan's first-innings total.
The series is level at 0-0 after the first Test in Abu Dhabi was drawn.
Brief scores
Pakistan - 378 (Misbah 102, Shafiq 83, Younis 58, Masood 54, Wood 3-39, Moeen 3-108)
England - 183 for 3 (Root 76*, Cook 65)
Status - England trail by 196 runs
