Mark Wood typified a grafting England display in the field after Pakistan won an important toss and then reached 282 for four on the opening day of the second Test in Dubai.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq unsurprisingly had no hesitation in batting first and was rewarded when he reached his ninth Test century in the final over of the day.
Despite being condemned to hard labour on an unresponsive surface England toiled manfully, led by Wood, whose skiddy pace worried the batsman throughout.
The Durham man's reward was the wicket of Pakistan's all-time leading Test run-scorer Younus Khan, shortly after tea for 56, and he could have had more as he harassed and hurried the batsmen despite the placid surface.
Misbah had looked ill at ease against Wood in a couple of spells, including his impressive burst after the tea break, but he remained steadfast to reach three figures on the stroke of stumps.
After being becalmed for the majority of his innings, Misbah suddenly sprung to life as he clouted Moeen Ali for a pair of sixes before a reverse sweep brought up his century, from 190 balls, and ensured his side were on course to make full use of winning the toss.
England had made some good inroads before Misbah arrived at the crease, reducing Pakistan to 85 for three, but the skipper expertly counteracted England's willing thereafter.
With fellow veteran Younus they put on a stand of 93 and, while Wood made a valuable breakthrough just after tea, Asad Shafiq overcame a nervy start to combine in an unbroken 104-run stand with his captain.
Wood could easily have had Shafiq early, drawing a number of false strokes during his impressive spell after tea, during which Younus fell thinning an edge down the leg side to Jos Buttler.
All four of England's wickets came shortly after a break.
Moeen and Ben Stokes, passed fit to play despite not feeling 100 per cent after illness in midweek, struck soon after the first drinks break while James Anderson had Shan Masood edging behind from the first ball after lunch.
Masood was the first of three Pakistan batsmen to pass fifty after he and Mohammad Hafeez batted through the opening hour in a 51-run stand.
Moeen broke the partnership straight after drinks as he found enough turn to catch the inside edge of Hafeez's bat and the ball ballooned to Jonny Bairstow at short-leg.
Bairstow then produced a sharp bit of work in the same position to account for Shoaib Malik, a double-centurion in the first Test, in Stokes' first over.
Malik flicked Stokes forcefully off his hip only to see Bairstow stand tall and, after he took the ball on his chest, reacted quickly to dive away and hold a one-handed catch.
It was an alert piece of work and, on a day England took all of the few chances that did come their way, it was invaluable as the bowlers would be worked hard.
Anderson showed his guile in forcing an edge from Masood with the first ball after lunch, but from there England's progress was checked by the expertise of Misbah.
The Pakistan captain had earlier confirmed their one expected change, with leg-spinner Yasir Shah returning in place of Rahat Ali, while England were unchanged after bad light denied them victory in Abu Dhabi last week.
England return to The SSE SWALEC in Cardiff in 2015 for Royal London One-Day Internationals against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
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