Pakistan was 202-2 in reply to England's 515 when play ended on day two of the third Test with Pakistan at Headingley.
England batted on with Kevin Pietersen reaching 135 before he fell to Mohammad Sami's bowling while Ian Bell scored his third century in consecutive Tests to reach 119 before he was the eighth man dismissed.
Allan Lamb in 1984 was the England player to score centuries in three consecutive Tests of a series.
However, England's tail wagged with No.9 batsman Sajiv Mahmood scoring34 and Steve Harmison 36 before the innings was completed.
Umar Gul provided the breakthrough for Pakistan by ending with 5-123, his second five-wicket bag in Tests.
Pakistan made an unsteady start with Taufeeq Umar (7) and Salman Butt (20) back in the pavilion with 36 runs on the board.
Had Paul Collingwood held a low chance from Mohammad Yousuf's bat off Steve Harmison's fielding the situation might well have been different. Pakistan had scored only 42 at that stage.
Yousuf made the most of his chance and by stumps had reached 91 not out with Younis Khan unbeaten on 64, the pair having added 166 runs.
Yousuf reached his half-century of 57 balls and Younis Khan took 80 balls.
Bell told BBC Sport at the end of play, "This one I had to scrap out in the morning but the consistency is very pleasing, it's nice to have three on the bounce."
Despite the disappointments in not picking up Yousuf, Bell said England just needed to be patient.
"There's plenty of time left.
"It looks pretty flat at the minute but if we keep putting the ball in the right areas time after time then I'm sure the pressure will build enough to create some wickets," he said.
Yousuf said he enjoys playing with Younis and added that if they can bat two sessions on day three that should be enough to save the game.
