Leeds: England batsman Ian Bell scored his third century in consecutive Tests before Pakistan battled back in fine style on the second day of the third Test at Headingley on Saturday.
The touring side, replying to England's first innings of 515, closed on 202 for two, Mohammad Yousuf (91 not out) and Younis Khan (64 not out) looking increasingly entrenched after putting on a stand of 166.
England lead the four-match series 1-0.
Bell's performance not only made him the first England player to score a trio of hundreds in consecutive Tests in the same home series since Allan Lamb against West Indies in 1984.
It was also the best, if not the most electric, innings of the day. Kevin Pietersen, who got to three figures on the opening day, ended with 135 to Bell's 119 but he had been as fortunate as he was flamboyant, getting reprieves on two, 29 and 104.
He also threw away his wicket, holing out in the deep after a sudden blaze of stroke play.
England resumed on 347 for six and Pietersen and Bell, parted when Pietersen retired hurt on Friday with cramp, put on 141 in all together.
Bell's chanceless innings, his fifth century and his fourth against Pakistan, kept to the textbook more than any other on Saturday.
Resuming on 66, he had one early scare, diving back into the crease at the non-striker's end just in time after a straight drive from Pietersen was glanced onto the stumps by Umar Gul's fingertips.
The rest of his morning, however, was exemplary, his best stroke an exquisite late cut to the boundary off the same bowler.
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Bell got to three figures by driving strike bowler Mohammad Sami through the on-side for the right-hander`s 11th boundary.
He finally fell, eighth man out, to leg spinner Danish Kaneria as he shaped to cut.
Golden Run
His golden run has seen him score 100 not out, 28, 106 not out and 119, giving him a series average of 176.5.
The other notable performances of the day came from fast bowlers, one with the ball and two with the bat.
The 21-year-old Gul, an excellent right-armer forced to open the attack because of Pakistan injuries, got five wickets in an innings for the second time in his 10-Test career.
England bowlers Sajid Mahmood (34) and Steve Harmison (36) hammered 56 for the ninth wicket, Harmison hitting four fours and two sixes from 27 balls.
When Pakistan batted they soon slipped to 36 for two and it could have been worse as Yousuf was dropped on five and twice edged over the slips.
Younis also had his frenetic moments, running out Salman Butt and surviving a huge lbw appeal off spinner Monty Panesar's arm ball before scything 42 off six overs with Yousuf immediately after tea.
Their 100-stand flashed up in 111 balls, with Yousuf`s 50 coming up off 58 balls.
The pair, however, recovered their poise to complete the day in command as England`s labouring bowlers struggled to eke out any swing or seam movement.
Younis capped Pakistan's fight back with a ferocious drive for four off Harmison and Yousuf effortlessly launched Pietersen`s occasional off spin into the stands.
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