Alastair Cook hit his second-highest Test score in Abu Dhabi - a staggering 263 from 528 balls.
England reached stumps on day four on 569-8, leading by 46 runs, on another day dominated by the bat.
Joe Root had seemed set to become the fourth centurion of the first Test, but flashed Pakistan seamer Rahat Ali behind for 85, before Jonny Bairstow was pinned in front by Wahab Riaz for eight.
Ben Stokes (57) survived a testing spell of reverse-swing from Wahab early in his innings to score fifty, but was the first wicket to spin in the Test as he was bowled by Shoaib Malik (2-97) when advancing down the track.
Cook became Malik's second victim, top-edging a sweep to backward-square-leg, and then Jos Buttler (23) was the third wicket to fall to spin in the final session, Zulfiqar Babar's first.
A draw still looks the must likely result on this turgid Emirati track - but with the turn evident in the evening session, and the tourists building a reasonable lead, you just never know...
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