Pakistan captain Babar Azam scored an impressive 136, before England picked up four wickets in the final session to reduce the hosts to 499-7 at the close of play on day three and keep their faint hopes of winning the Test alive.
Babar was one of three Pakistan centurions, with openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq also reaching the landmark, as England's bowlers toiled on a pitch so lifeless even PCB chairman Ramiz Raja labelled it "embarrassing".
Debutant Will Jacks said at the end of day two England would need to "have a few crazy moments go our way" to win the Test and they worked incredibly hard to leave Pakistan 158 runs behind with their lengthy tail now exposed.
After resuming on 181-0, Shafique and Imam both brought up deserved hundreds. However, England dismissed them both in quick succession, with Jacks claiming his first Test wicket when Shafique was caught behind for 114.
Jack Leach removed Imam for 121 when he holed out to Ollie Robinson at deep long on. And when Leach also pinned veteran Azhar Ali lbw for 27 on the stroke of lunch, England felt the momentum had begun to shift.
They had toiled hard in the field and been rewarded with three key breakthroughs, but Pakistan stood firm after lunch with Babar leading the way. He reached an imperious century, the seventh of the match, as Pakistan added 113 runs in the afternoon session without losing any wickets.
However, the tea break came at a perfect time for Stokes' men, who were able to regroup and make one last push late in the day. Saud Shakeel battled his way to 37 off 94 balls, but never looked completely comfortable at the crease and fell shortly after the break to Robinson.
Jacks then picked up his second wicket when Babar was caught at point, before James Anderson removed the dangerous Mohammad Rizwan for 29 and Naseem Shah holed out for 15 to offer England a glimmer of hope heading into day four.
Here are five talking points...
Openers make more history
Shafique and Imam's centuries brought up a remarkable first in the history of Test cricket, with both sets of openers scoring hundreds in the first innings of a game for the first time ever. It was also the first time both opening partnerships have been over 100.
This Test has seen a number of records broken and it was also only the third time in Test history that every member of both side's top six had reached 20. "We had to play well as the openers set the tone," Shafique told Sky Sports.
"We had a nice partnership and it gave the side confidence. We have a positive approach. There is no talk of going for the draw. England will play attacking and give us a good total. So we will fight it out."
Shafique an impressive prospect
At the age of just 23, Shafique has made a remarkable start to his international career with the opener scoring three hundreds and four fifties while averaging 70.83 in 14 innings. He has only ever played in the subcontinent so far and it will be interesting to see how he fares in conditions more alien to him, but Shafique certainly looks to be an excellent prospect for Pakistan at the top of the order.
"He has taken to Test cricket like a duck to water," former England captain Nasser Hussain said on commentary. "Eight Test matches, three Test hundreds as easy as you like."
"Very, very fine innings played at the right tempo for him and the right tempo for Pakistan," added England legend David Gower. "The two things Pakistan needed from this opening partnership was cohesion and longevity at the crease, so they've made a fabulous start."
Babar shows his class
One of the best batters in the world right now and infinitely watchable, Babar made sure to make the most of the flat Rawalpindi pitch as he scored 136. The Pakistan captain reached three figures off just 126 balls and was Pakistan's quickest against England.
However, given the way England batted in their innings it was remarkably just the fifth quickest in this Test. He safely guided Pakistan past the follow-on, but offered England some hope when he fell to Jacks.
"There was something inevitable about this innings," former England spinner Vic Marks said of Babar's hundred on BBC Test Match Special. "Babar has done it in style. He has played beautifully."
England's toil rewarded
On such a lifeless surface England had to get creative in their attempts to take wickets and they made three important breakthroughs in the morning session and four late breakthroughs in the final session.
They did toil in the middle session as Babar took centre stage, with Pakistan adding 113 runs without losing a single wicket, but Stokes earned praise for his captaincy as England ended the day with their hopes of winning still alive.
"It was much better [for England]," Pakistan legend Waqar Younis told Sky Sports. "They controlled the game really well and they picked up wickets - and that's the key. It was good from the fast bowlers and the spinners. They had control, the captaincy was outstanding, the way Ben Stokes has spread his fielders around."
Jacks steps up on debut
England's task was made more difficult by the absence of Liam Livingstone, originally selected as the second spinner, who has not bowled at all after injuring his right knee. In his absence Jacks stepped up on debut, getting through 33 overs to supplement Leach's 42 and claiming 3-132.
England certainly missed the point of difference that could have been provided by the express pace of Mark Wood or Jamie Overton, with Wood unavailable due to the hip injury he sustained at the T20 World Cup and Overton suffering from the same illness that also ruled wicketkeeper Ben Foakes out of the Test, but Jacks can be incredibly proud of his efforts and earned praise from Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara.
"The focus would be on Leach as the main bowler, but at the end of the day, getting that breakthrough and the line Jacks bowled was excellent," he said on Sky Sports. "I think the field setting was really good; he got drift, he got good flight and bounce.
"He's a tall bowler...and this is really good for England that one of their batters like Root can bowl a few overs. Leach was really good with the new ball as well and I like the field setting."
