Hafeez, dropped by Broad off his own bowling when on 113, he drove Anderson for two to complete the 150-mark, his 4th 150 plus in all Tests but a run later holed out to spinner Moeen Ali at long-on where Ian Bell took a simple catch.
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Hafeez has so far hit 15 boundaries and three sixes during his 246-ball stay at the crease to help Pakistan consolidate after conceding a 72-run first innings lead.
They therefore have an obvious chance to take charge of this final match, and eke out a 1-1 series draw.
The near misses ended there – but England had an opening again, after Misbah and Hafeez at last went in quick succession to the second new ball.
Pakistan lead the three-match series 1-0 with the first at Abu Dhabi drawn.
Resuming from a score of 229 for 4 after lunch, Hafeez and Misbah added 16 runs before the latter became Stuart Broad’s second victim of the innings. Hafeez ran through from the non-strikers’ end and though there was an England overthrow, Ali (39) failed to get back in time amid a calamitous run-out.
Malik, who scored a brilliant 245 in the first Test, was caught napping by a sharp inswinger from Anderson, which struck him right in front of the wicket.
The opener survived an lbw review off the first ball of the day – Adil Rashid’s delivery pitching outside leg – and should have been stumped by Jonny Bairstow two balls later as the opener charged at a googly and was beaten on the inside edge.
England began the day just 12 runs behind, with six wickets intact. “I loved every second of it yesterday … not so much today”, said Taylor, who lost his place in the side after playing only two Tests against South Africa in 2012.
In the evening sun, with the shadows lengthening, Cook was doing his best to strike a balance between trying to take wickets, and keep the Pakistan openers Hafeez and Azhar Ali in check.
Ben Stokes, who sustained a collarbone injury in the Test while attempting an athletic dive, came in to bat at No. 11, clearly because his team felt they hadn’t done enough.
Taylor’s 226-minute stay brought six fours, and he added 89 for the fifth wicket with Bairstow.
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Despite Taylor’s insistence that England will relish their run-chase whatever its scale, he admits that a stream of wickets this morning is paramount to ensure a manageable hunt on a pitch likely to give increased assistance to Pakistan’s spinners.
