England dropped catches with alarming regularity earlier in the day with Shafiq getting a reprieve on 7 when James Anderson couldn’t hold onto a sharp chance in the slips.
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The diminutive batsman took advantage to underpin Pakistan’s stumps total of 340 for six, a lead of 12, principally in a fourth-wicket stand of 150 alongside back-to-form veteran Younus (101no).
Pakistan are already a wicket down, but expect them to be pretty controlled in their approach as they have been all series – they will get close on first innings, but they should be behind and either all out or very close to by the end of the day, and given they have to bat last well behind in the match.
Finn spilled a straightforward caught and bowled chance off Azhar Ali but the batsman survived and advanced to 36 not out at the interval with Asad Shafiq, also dropped by James Anderson in the slips off Woakes, on 24.
Woakes took the new ball when it became available with Pakistan on 298-4 and 18 runs later it did the trick, Misbah prodding at an out-swinger and edging via the shoulder of the bat to Hales at gully.
Azhar Ali seemed to be in control during his innings but his stay at the crease was cut-short after he was dismissed for 49 runs.
As England themselves demonstrated in the first innings, when a spate of let-offs allowed Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali to engineer their own recovery from 110 for 5, opportunities on this pitch can be hard to recreate when they are allowed to go begging.
Shafiq was unperturbed and, owing Pakistan some runs after his pair in their defeat at Edgbaston last week, he completed a 75-ball half-century which contained seven fours and a six over long-on off Moeen.
There was an air of authority about him, and style too from the moment he opened his account mid-morning with a cover-drive on the up off Finn for four from the third ball he faced.
By then Younus, under fire this summer at the age of 38 as he has struggled to reach the standards of his outstanding career, had posted his first 50 of the series.
It took a special moment to break the partnership, Shafiq climbing into a pull off Finn only to be brilliantly caught by Stuart Broad at mid-wicket.
Sohail Khan was the key man picking up five wickets, but he was well supported by Wahab Riaz with three and Mohammad Amir with another two.
Chris Woakes, who had two catches dropped in the morning session, then struck twice in an over with the new ball to remove Misbah-ul-Haq and Iftikhar Ahmed, the debutant.
The experienced Younus kept his nerve to register his 32nd Test hundred and he was unbeaten on 101 at the close with Sarfraz Ahmed on 17.
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While he remains, Pakistan can still contemplate a substantial lead – possibly even of the three-figure magnitude they squandered in Birmingham.
