Younis Khan's superb 218 put Pakistan in a strong position before they picked up four England wickets to take complete control on the third day of the fourth and final Test at The Oval on Saturday.
Younis batted for more than seven hours to lift the touring side to 542 all out in their first innings, a lead of 214 runs, and they then removed Alastair Cook, Alex Hales, James Vince and Joe Root to leave England in deep trouble on 88 for four.
Gary Ballance was unbeaten on four at the close with Jonny Bairstow on 14 but Pakistan should secure victory on Sunday to level the series 2-2.
Younus shared a seventh-wicket partnership of 77 with Sarfraz Ahmed who was the only wicket to fall in the morning session, well caught by diving wicketkeeper Bairstow off Chris Woakes for 44.
The experienced Younus shepherded the tail well, hitting four sixes and 31 fours as the England attack toiled in the sunshine.
Cook, on seven, then edged Wahab Riaz to Iftikhar Ahmed at first slip, Hales (12) was trapped lbw by Yasir Shah and the leg-spinner had Vince caught by Misbah-ul-Haq at cover for a three-ball duck to leave England reeling on 55 for three.
Joe Root made a fluent 39 but he was deceived by a quicker ball from Shah that crashed into his pads and the home team, 126 runs behind, face an uphill task to save the match with two days remaining.