Resuming play on day two at 282-4, Pakistan lost centurion Misbah to the fifth ball of the day as Stuart Broad struck to remove the captain, who had made good on his decision to bat first to help his team recover from 85/3 and ensure the tourists were made to graft on the opening day.
After a hard day's toil on another unresponsive surface in the United Arab Emirates on day 1, England enjoyed
a good morning session on day 2 rattling through Pakistan's lower order to restrict the hosts to a total of 378.
After Broad's early breakthrough England were frustrated by some diligent batting from Asad Shafiq and the more counter-attacking Sarfraz Ahmed, but they got the breakthrough just after the drinks break when Sarfraz picked out James Anderson off the bowling of Moeen Ali.
England then mopped up the tail, with Adil Rashid taking his first first-innings Test wicket and Mark Wood finishing strongly with two wickets.
Speaking after impressing on the first day, Wood said: The pitch is slightly different here to the first Test.
The conditions are a little bit different, in the morning this stadium has a bit of cover from the sun so there is a bit of dew around and it might nip around a bit more early doors, we will have to wait and see in the morning.
The pitch is a bit more skiddier and had a little bit more coming onto the bat, rather than Abu Dhabi which was really slow.
I tried to be a little bit more aggressive today, sort of fuller-short, the old trick but it didn't work all the time.
It was frustrating. Stokesy, I have never seen a bowler go to third man as much as him. I feel so sorry for him.
Broady and Jimmy, we all created half chances. Even the spinners, Misbah attacked the spinners but that gives them a chance. I think tomorrow morning will be interesting to see how he goes.
I managed to take one wicket, Younus Khan, and he is a pretty good player so I am happy with that.