An unbeaten 97* from Mohammad Hafeez led a Pakistan fightback on day three in Sharjah after Samit Patel guided England to a 72-run first innings lead.
Coming to the crease after the fall of club teammate James Taylor, who had made 76, Patel scored a career-best 42 as England took a crucial first innings lead.
However, Hafeez and Azhar Ali wiped off the deficit without loss and despite late wickets from the tourists, Pakistan ended the day 74 runs ahead on 146-3.
England began the third day in the ascendancy after Taylor’s efforts on Monday, but the right-hander fell early in the morning, edging Rahat Ali behind to Sarfraz Ahmed.
Patel came to the crease to join Jonny Bairstow, the latter reigning in his usual attacking intent until he misjudged the length of a Zulfiqar Babar delivery and was bowled for 43 attempting to cut.
The Nottinghamshire right-hander, playing his first Test in almost three years, was imperious either side of tea, looking comfortable against both pace and spin.
It was going to take something special from the Pakistan attack to dismiss him and Yasir Shah produced a ripping leg spinner to bowl Patel for 42.
Shoaib Malik, who announced his retirement from the Test arena after the third day, then took three late wickets to return career-best figures of 4-33.
After dismissing Adil Rashid for eight he bowled James Anderson (7) and Ben Stokes, who batted despite a collarbone injury, without scoring to end the England innings on 306.
In the face of a 72-run deficit, Hafeez and Ali repelled the England pace duo of Broad and Anderson before taking the attack to the spinners.
With the Pakistan lead building, a mix-up between the openers gave the tourists the breakthrough, Ali run out by Ian Bell after both batsmen found themselves at the same end.
There was still time in the day for Anderson, trapping Malik LBW for 0, and Broad, finding reverse swing to have Younis Khan LBW for 14 after not playing a shot, to leave their mark.
Hafeez finished just short of his century but will come back on the fourth morning looking to build on the lead of 74 and leave England with a tough fourth innings chase in their bid to level the series.
The 2015 season has seen dramatic last-gasp four day victories, thrilling limited-overs contests and an historic Investec Ashes Test, all in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge.
Next season, we’d wager, will be no less enthralling and frankly we’d hate for you to miss out.