Pakistan then won the second Test in Abu Dhabi by 178 runs.
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The batting all-rounder announced on Tuesday he will retire from Test cricket after this game and looks set to go out on a high note after dismissing Moeen Ali (22) and Ian Bell (0) as England were reduced to 46-2.
Cook and Root survived confident leg-before appeals off Zulfiqar Babar in the dying moments, much to the relief of the England camp.
England’s best chase in all Test cricket is the 332 they made against Australia in 1928.
England’s spinners again toiled, and often posed little threat, eventually achieving combined figures of three for 248 – compared with the five for 96 taken by the admirable James Anderson and Stuart Broad (three for 44), operating without the assistance of injured third seamer Ben Stokes.
Another chance went by when Broad dropped a sharp return low catch after the fast bowler found a leading edge off Hafeez’s bat when the Pakistan opener was on 113. Samit Patel bowled the Pakistan wicketkeeper for 36 before Broad had Shafiq dismissed in a similar manner as Pakistan folded for 355.
England, albeit with a second new ball imminent, were therefore left contemplate an eventual chase which will surely tax their resources. His match haul of six wickets so far is also his best in a Test – he had never previously taken more than four in a match.
“We are going to have to bat very well, it’s going to be hard on a fifth-day wicket against their spinners, but we are going to give it a good shot”, said Anderson.
Hafeez timed the ball beautifully and hit 15 boundaries and three sixes in his knock. Rashid, Moeen and Patel managed just one wicket each despite the pitch assisting spinners.
Hafeez punishes England mistakes: Hafeez’s 151 was the main reason England were kept in the field beyond tea. This is his 118th match.
The two quick wickets put Pakistan in a spot of bother, but Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed’s 55-run stand for the seventh wicket took its lead over 250.
When the final day began England were rocked right at the start, losing four wickets in the space of 31 balls after resuming at 46-2.
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England challenged umpire Chris Gaffaney’s not out decision but television umpire Paul Reiffel upheld the verdict.
