English paceman Stuart Broad said he is pleased with his side's position at stumps on day three of the second Test against Pakistan.
In Abu Dhabi, Pakistan finished Friday's play at 125-4, holding a 55-run lead with six second-innings wickets remaining.
Earlier in the day, England moved from 207-5 to 327 all out, largely thanks to efforts of Broad who smacked 58 from 62 deliveries.
"We're delighted with our position," Broad said. "They're only about 50 ahead and we are only 19 overs from the new ball. We just have to remember we are only two wickets away from being into their tail."
"The wicket today played at its flattest - I just don't know if it will turn more or play flatter tomorrow. But the important thing is we didn't start chasing wickets; we didn't start trying for magical deliveries. We just stayed patient."
On a wicket that has needed batsmen to be patient, Broad bucked the trend in his innings that came at nearly a run a ball.
And the quick was happy his gamble to attack early paid off as he finished with six fours and one six.
"Looking at how difficult it was to defend against the quick-turning ball at the end of the second day, I thought my best option would be to try and manoeuvre the field, try to counter punch," he said.
"Once I hit a couple of boundaries, everybody seemed to move out and I could pick up some singles and twos. It was a personal decision to give it a bit of a go with the amount of turn there was the night before and it paid off."
England will remain hopeful of having to chase less than 200, but if the total needed exceeds 250 they will have their work cut out, according to Broad.
"We don't want to be chasing more than 250. Scoreboard pressure plays a huge role and even if the wicket does get a bit flatter that's still a decent score. We have to bowl well and that new ball will be the key. Hopefully we can restrict them to about 200 and then chase that down," he said.
Pakistan's Azhar Ali had a different viewpoint to his counterpart Broad, believing the 'hosts' in the United Arab Emirates could defend a smaller lead if required to.
Ali's unbeaten 46 guided Pakistan to stumps and he feels a lead of 150 would be 'very good' and that anything 'above would be excellent'.
"We're very confident," a buoyant Ali said after the day's play.
"We are fighting back. We lost four wickets but we're determined and will not give up."
"No one gave their wicket away. The England bowlers are very good, it has to be said, but we don't want to give up. We were determined and we knew that if we stayed there, the runs would come."