England need 285 for victory over Pakistan in a minimum of 90 overs on the final day today after reaching an impressive 85 without loss at the close of the fourth day of the second and final Test at Old Trafford yesterday.
Michael Atherton was 30 not out off 64 balls including six fours while Marcus Trescothick was 48 not out off 70 deliveries with one six and seven fours.
Delighted England coach Duncan Fletcher said: "They batted well tonight. You won't see an innings like that very often. The guys showed tremendous character."
Despite England's fine position, former Zimbabwe captain Fletcher was taking nothing for granted. "All their bowlers are world-class. Wasim (Akram) is fired up and Waqar (Younis) still swings it," he said. "It's difficult to chase anything over 200 and we've got to score 370. But it's a good wicket to bat on."
Earlier Pakistan were bowled out for 323, leaving England to chase what would be the third-highest fourth innings total in Test cricket history, were they to achieve it, surpassing Australia's 369 for six against Pakistan at Hobart in 1999-2000.
Pakistan 1st innings 403
England 1st innings 357 Pakistan Second innings (overnight: 87-3)
Saeed Anwar c Thorpe b Gough - 12 Abdur Razzaq c Cork b Hoggard - 22 Faisal Iqbal c Stewart b Caddick - 14 Inzamam-Ul-Haq c Trescothick b Hoggard - 85 Yousuf Youhana c Atherton b Caddick - 49 Younis Khan lbw b Cork - 17 Azhar Mahmood b Caddick - 14 Rashid Latif c Atherton b Hoggard - 25 Wasim Akram b Gough - 36 Saqlain Mushtaq c Stewart b Gough - 5 Waqar Younis not out - 14 Extras (lb11, nb19)
Bowling: Gough 22.5-2-83-3 (7nb); Caddick 22-4-92-3 (11nb); Hoggard 29-4-93-3; Cork 25-942-1. ENGLAND Second innings M Atherton not out - 30 M Trescothick not out - 48 Extras (b2, lb2, w1, nb2) - 7 - Total (22 overs) - 85 Bowling: Wasim 6-1-18-0 (2nb, 1w); Waqar 30-20-0; Saqlain 8-3-24-0; Razzaq 5-1-19-0.
