Saud Shakeel missed out on a hundred but Salman Agha smashed a brisk 79 not out to propel Pakistan to a commanding 515 for eight at tea on the second day of the contest on Tuesday.
Pakistan lost Saud and Aamer Jamal in the second session but Salman hit two sixes and 10 fours in his belligerent knock to take them past the 500-mark.
Shaheen Afridi was giving him company on 13.
England were made to toil with little reward on Monday and it was more of the same when play resumed as Naseem Shah, a key cog in Pakistan’s new-ball attack, proved he could contribute with the bat as well.
Naseem smacked three sixes in his career-best 33, denying England a breakthrough in the first hour, despite suffering hits to the helmet and his bowling hand.
Naseem collaborated in a 64-run partnership with Saud before his 82-ball defiance ended after he tickled Brydon Carse to Harry Brook at leg slip, giving the debutant seamer his maiden test wicket.
Next man in Mohammad Rizwan fell for a 12-ball duck, stepping out against Jack Leach and spooning the ball to Chris Woakes at mid-off.
Saud (82) looked poised for a hundred but was caught in the slip off Shoaib Bashir.
Thanks to Salman’s free-scoring knock, Pakistan milked 118 runs from 26 overs in this session to cement their position in the contest.
England have burnt two out of their three reviews in the innings. Ollie Pope now has an unflattering 0-13 review record as England captain.
Saud had stayed on course to be the third Pakistan batter to smash a hundred in the opening test against England as the hosts reached 397 for six at lunch.
Naseem excelled in the nightwatchman’s role as he smashed a career-best 33, collaborating in a 64-run partnership with Saud, who was batting on 67 at the break.
Salman Agha was yet to open his account at the other end on a batter’s paradise at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
England were made to toil with little reward on Monday and it was more of the same when play resumed as Naseem, a key cog in Pakistan’s new-ball attack, proved he could contribute with the bat as well.
Naseem smacked three sixes, denying England a breakthrough in the first hour, despite suffering hits to the helmet and his bowling hand.
His 82-ball defiance finally came to an end when he tickled Brydon Carse to Harry Brook at leg slip, giving the debutant seamer his maiden test wicket.
The next man Mohammad Rizwan fell for a 12-ball duck, stepping out against Jack Leach and spooning the ball to Chris Woakes at mid-off.
Saud has looked in control hitting eight fours in his fine knock.
