Australia face an uphill battle to regain their spot at the top of the International Cricket Council Test rankings after an evening-session collapse on day four left Pakistan in pole position to win the first contest in Dubai.
Chasing a victory target of 438 on a deteriorating surface, Australia - needing to win both Tests in United Arab Emirates to leapfrog second-placed South Africa - lost four wickets for five runs to leave them struggling on 59 for four at the close.
Spin again proved their downfall as Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah snared two scalps apiece, with only experienced opening batsman Chris Rogers providing any resistance in making an unbeaten 23.
Pakistan applied themselves much better than their opponents and were able to call time on their second innings at 286 for two after Ahmed Shehzad and Younus Khan struck centuries, the latter becoming his country’s most prolific century maker with 26.
Resuming the penultimate day on 38 without loss, the designated hosts advanced to 71 before Steve O’Keefe claimed the first of his - and his side’s - two victims.
Azhar Ali tried and failed with an expansive shot that wicketkeeper Brad Haddin caught behind, but Australia’s hopes of collecting more victims evaporated due to Shehzad and Younus’ 168-run partnership.
Shehzad soared to three figures and, after hitting a quartet of maximums in his 131, was dismissed lbw attempting to reverse-sweep O’Keefe, who proved more effective than first-choice spinner Nathan Lyon on debut.
Pakistan declared when Younus became the first batsman in more than 40 years to compile a brace of centuries against Australia.
Rogers and first-innings centurion David Warner looked comfortable at the beginning of their run-chase, the former even overturning a caught-behind decision on review.
However, in the final half hour of play, Warner’s dismissal triggered a dramatic collapse that left Pakistan favourites to move 1-0 ahead in the two-Test series tomorrow.
The left-hander, advancing down the pitch, was stumped off Babar who trapped Alex Doolan lbw five balls later.
And things got worse for Darren Lehmann’s side when Michael Clarke and nightwatchman Lyon were pinned in front by Shah within four deliveries, leaving Rogers and Steven Smith with seven overs to negotiate.