That left England on 33 for two from seven owners, and all the while fearing the arrival of leg spinner Shah, whose six first-innings wickets had ripped mercilessly through the hosts’ order.
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England needed to surpass their record fourth innings-winning chase in a Lord’s Test of 282-3 against New Zealand in 2004 if they were to go 1-0 up in the four-match series.
That fixture saw Pakistan left-arm quick Mohammad Amir, together with fellow paceman Mohammad Asif and then captain Salman Butt, given five-year bans and jail sentences for conspiring to deliberately bowl no-balls as part of a newspaper sting operation.
Misbah marked his first-innings century by performing 10 press-ups in the middle, a celebration he subsequently explained as a tribute to the men who prepared Pakistan for their tour at an army fitness camp in Abbottabad.
England were 90 for three in their second innings, needing a further 193 runs to reach their victory target of 283, at lunch.
After nearly three and a half hours at the wicket for his 48, Bairstow had a momentary lapse in concentration as that man Shah bowled him out at a crucial time for Pakistan. Alex Hales, Cook’s opening partner, made a brisk 16 before carelessly chasing a wide ball from Rahat, with Mohammad Hafeez holding a good catch at first slip.
England took to the crease confidently with Cook taking four off his first ball, but the captain was dispatched after he stabbed at Rahat’s delivery and was caught by keeper Sarfraz Ahmed.
Yet to play a major Test innings, Vince was nearly out on 9 when his edged drive off Rahat flew to Younis Khan at second slip.
Moeen Ali then gave himself only three sighters before he went on the charge at Yasir, missed and was bowled by another leg-break. Certainly when you’ve lost a game of cricket for the first 20 minutes or so it’s not pleasant. The bowler lured Root into attempting a pull and had Yasir stationed at deep square leg who completed a neat catch, running to his right.
That England came so close – they rallied from 139-6 to 195-6 – was down to the fighting qualities of wicketkeeper Bairstow and all-rounder Chris Woakes.
“To allow Yasir to get six wickets when it wasn’t turning has cost us”, said Cook.
Consistently bowling at speeds of 90mph, he intimidated England’s batsmen with short deliveries and tested them with late swing.
With the old ball, Wahab Riaz had bowled a quite magnificent reverse-swinging spell to Bairstow and Woakes without reward, and it was Amir who took advantage. Jonny Bairstow was fighting a grim battle, unbeaten on 28 and Chris Woakes was not out on 5 at the interval.
Pakistan had resumed on 214 for eight, but England set the tone by quickly dismissing the tourists’ tail with their second innings ending just 13 balls into the morning session.
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Yasir had moved to a career-best 30 the previous evening, but did not add before falling to the last ball of the first over.
