Mohammad Yousuf's superb 185 made light of England's bowling to help Pakistan build a position of safety after three days of the first Test at Lord's.
Chasing England's 528-9 declared, Pakistan is 409-7.
With both attacks reduced on potency, it took a determined effort nonetheless from the experienced core of the Pakistan side to recover from the overnight position of 66-3.
Nightwatchman Mohammad Sami was the first wicket to fall on the third day when caught behind from Matthew Hoggard's bowling when only two runs had been added.
However, that was to be a rare moment of success for England on the day as Inzamam-ul-Haq joined Yousuf as they added 173 runs for the fifth wicket.
Inzamam scored 69 before being bowled by Liam Plunkett when exposing his leg stump.
Abdul Razzaq had a brief stay while hitting 22 runs in a 59-run stand with Yousuf but was undone by some extra bounce.
Yousuf achieved his century off 157 balls. It was his 17th Test century.
Kamran Akmal was once again a thorn in England's side as he helped Yousuf avoid the follow-on while another 98 runs were added.
It took Kevin Pietersen to break their stand when he had Akmal caught behind for 58.
Ten runs were added before stumps with Shahid Afridi and Yousuf unbeaten at stumps and offering Pakistan hope of even more runs on the fourth day.
Of the England bowlers Steve Harmison was only able to add Razzaq to his haul of the second evening, to end with 3-76 from 24 overs while Plunkett took 2-78.
