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Sharjah: Opener Mohammad Hafeez notched a brilliant 97 under pressure to help Pakistan stage a comeback in the third and final Test against England in Sharjah on Tuesday.
The 35-year-old was just three runs away from his ninth Test hundred as he took Pakistan to 146-3 at the close on the third day at Sharjah stadium, leading by 74 runs with seven wickets intact.
Nightwatchman Rahat Ali was the other not out batsman on nought as Pakistan lost the key wicket of Younis Khan for 14, trapped leg-before by fast bowler Stuart Broad with just two overs to go in the day.
But Hafeez held the innings together well, smashing nine boundaries and three sixes during his aggressive 155-ball knock as Pakistan seek to avoid squandering a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Pakistan won the second Test in Dubai while the first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi.
Earlier, off-spinner Shoaib Malik took a career best 4-33 as England were bowled out for 306 in their first innings, taking a 72-run lead over Pakistan's total of 234.
James Taylor top-scored with 76.
Pakistan were lucky not to lose Hafeez after Australian umpire Bruce Oxenford gave him caught behind off paceman James Anderson in the fifth over of the innings with the score on four.
But Hafeez, then on two, challenged the decision and got away on referral as television replays showed there was a gap between ball and bat, much to the relief of the Pakistan camp.
Pakistan were off to a confident start of 101 -- only their second 50-plus opening stand in Sharjah -- with Hafeez earning the lead by hitting spinner Samit Patel for a four and then taking three runs.
He completed his 13th Test half-century with boundary off Patel and then hoisted James Anderson for a six and four to post the 100-mark.
Brief scores
Pakistan - 234 (Misbah 71, Anderson 4-17) and 146 for 3 (Hafeez 97*)
England - 306 (Taylor 76, Cook 49, Malik 4-33)
Status - Pakistan lead by 74 runs
