4.43pm England, then, will need a hefty 297 to seal the match and the series. If successful, it will be the second-highest run-chase in Pakistan, which rather sums up the challenge.

It was a hard-toiling effort from England, with Shoaib Bashir's four-for the stand-out haul, but Brydon Carse's luckless two-for the most impressive display. Had either of those catches off Salman been taken on 4 or 6, this chase might not have been much more than 200. Credit where it's due to Pakistan's battling batting though. They overcame their third-innings jitters, even outscoring their 220 on this same pitch last week, and did so with a proactive approach that kept the runs coming at closer to 4 an over than 3.

A huge challenge awaits, starting with a 40-minute spell this evening. Little doubt how England will play it... can Duckett and Crawley bite a big chunk out of their fourth-day requirement, or will Sajid and co carry on where they left off in the first innings? Let's find out, shall we?

Scott : "Honestly I'd be inclined to open with Jamie Smith and give him a license to smack a few tonight. " I wouldn't break up the opening partnership but I wonder if the Nighthawk will be in play tonight? It's the sort of situation that this team wouldn't have thought twice about last year... but they are a bit more measured in their funkiness these days! No Broad or Rehan these days... I vote Sophie Ecclestone Matthew Potts!

Pakistan, incidentally, have gone past the 220 they made in their last second innings, on this same pitch three matchdays ago...

Essa: "Sajid Khan will tell everyone how rowdy the pitch is!" That is definitely the danger!

In comes Zahid, with the lead just nudging a very imposing 300

Syed Raza: "Over emphasis on the pitch. Some batsmen make the pitch look flat, some bowlers make the pitch seem like a minefield. Mindset > Pitch." That's probably half-true!

Carse deserves far better than a one-fer. Here he goes again