ENGLAND were 46 for two wickets against Pakistan at the close of the fourth day in Sharjah yesterday, chasing a target of 284 to win the third and final Test and draw the series.Captain Alastair Cook was 17 not out with Joe Root on six after Moeen Ali and Ian Bell were dismissed by Shoaib Malik in the space of two overs.
Having taken a first-innings lead of 72, England finally dismissed Pakistan for 355 in their second innings, with opener Mohammad Hafeez making 151.
Pakistan, who have never lost a series in the United Arab Emirates since their home matches were moved there in 2010, won the second Test by 178 runs after the first was drawn.
They struck two heavy blows in the last session when Malik, playing in his last Test, dismissed Moeen Ali and then Bell in quick succession with the score on 34.
Moeen, who has been unable to make a success of his role as opening bat, fell leg-before for 22, and Bell lost his off stump without scoring.
Root, who survived a controversial leg-before decision as Pakistan used up their final DRS review, stayed in until the close, along with Cook, and at least one of them must make a big total if England are to score the 238 runs still needed.
Earlier, Hafeez (151) struck his ninth Test century to help Pakistan consolidate their position after losing nightwatchman Rahat Ali for a duck.
England challenged the umpire’s not-out verdict against Hafeez on the first ball of the day off leg-spinner Adil Rashid but could not get it overturned.
Wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow missed a stumping chance in the same over and later Stuart Broad dropped a tough return catch from him.
Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq shared a fifth-wicket stand of 93 with Hafeez and when Malik grabbed his two wickets Pakistan became firm favourites to win the series if not the match as well.
“We’re very happy with the total on the board and we’re very confident of winning the game,” Hafeez told Sky Sports.

PAKISTAN 1st innings 234 (Misbah-ul-Haq 71; J. Anderson 4-17)
England 1st innings 306 (J. Taylor 76; S. Malik 4-33)
PAKISTAN 2nd innings (o/n 146-3)
M. Hafeez c Bell b Ali 151
Az. Ali run-out 34
S. Malik lbw b Anderson 0
Y. Khan lbw b Broad 14
R. Ali b Anderson 0
Misbah-ul-Haq lbw b Broad 38
A. Shafiq b Broad 46
S. Ahmed b Patel 36
Y. Shah c Broad b Rashid 4
W. Riaz run-out (Bell, Bairstow) 21
Z. Babar not out 0
Extras: (b-6 lb-5) 11
Total: (all out, 118.2 overs) 355
Fall of wickets: 1-101, 2-105, 3-146, 4-152, 5-245, 6-257, 7-312, 8-319, 9-354.
Bowling: J. Anderson 26-8-52-2, S. Broad 23-6-44-3, S. Patel 19-1-79-1, M. Ali 21.2-1-72-1, A. Rashid 29-3-97-1.
ENGLAND 2nd innings (Target: 284 runs)
M. Ali lbw b Malik 22
A. Cook not out 17
I. Bell b Malik 0
J. Root not out 6
Extras: (nb-1) 1
Total: (for 2 wickets, 22 overs) 46
Fall of wickets: 1-34,, 2-34.
Bowling: R. Ali 2-0-13-0, W. Riaz 2-0-10-0 (nb-1), Z. Babar 9-2-11-0, S. Malik 7-3-8-2, Y. Shah 2-0-4-0.