A late collapse has England struggling at stumps on the third day of the third Test match against Pakistan at The Oval.
Despite a gritty 110 from opener Alistair Cook, England lost 7-65 to slump to 221-9 and lead Pakistan by just 146 runs.
The tourists would expect to chase a total of less than 175 with just bowlers Stuart Broad and Steven Finn at the crease.
Resuming at 6-1 and trailing by 69 runs, Cook impressed early and was ably supported by night-watchman Jimmy Anderson.
Anderson's resistance ended when he fell for a defiant 11 off the bowling of spinner Saeed Ajmal but it was when Cook and Jonathan Trott (36) were at the crease that England really flourished.
The two added 116 and looked at ease with Pakistan rarely troubling the duo.
While Trott played the defensive supporting role it was an under-fire Cook who flayed the bowling all over the park.
His place in the side was under threat but the opener produced a performance that may just ensure he is part of the side that begins the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.
Cook reached his century with the score at 143 but eventually fell 13 runs later for a crafty 110 which included 16 boundaries.
Trott was joined at the wicket by Kevin Pietersen (23) but after a 38-run union the Pakistanis stamped their mark on the contest.
Pietersen and Trott fell in quick succession to Ajmal and Mohammad Amir respectively as England collapsed.
Wickets tumbled with alarming regularity as Paul Collingwood (3), Eoin Morgan (5), Matt Prior (5) and Graeme Swann (6) all failed to reach double figures.
Amir (4-51) again gave fans a sneak-peak at his undoubted potential while Ajmal (4-71) toiled away successfully.
Broad and Finn were able to survive until stumps but Pakistan went into the dressing rooms at the completion of the third day knowing they are in the box seat to win the Test.