Pakistan took a huge step towards victory in the first Test by taking four key Australian wickets after hundreds from Younis Khan and Ahmed Shehzad put them in the driving seat in Dubai on Saturday.
After setting an imposing 438-run target, Pakistan rattled the Australians through a brace of wickets apiece from spinners Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah to leave Australia tottering on 59-4 at stumps on the fourth day, needing six wickets for a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.
Chris Rogers (23) and Steven Smith (3) were at the crease as Australia need another 379 for an unlikely win.
Australia's best chase to win a Test was way back in 1948 when they made 404-3 against England at Headingley while their best chase against Pakistan was 369-6 at Hobart in 1999.
Australia had raced to 44-0 before Babar struck twice in the 14th over, inducing David Warner, who had scored his third successive Test century in the first innings, to come out of the crease for a smart stumping when he was on 29 with his first ball and then trapped Alex Doolan (nought) leg before with his last.
Michael Clarke survived a review leg-before decision on nought off Yasir before trapped in front of the wicket in the leg-spinner's next over for three. He made it 4-49 catching nightwatchman Nathan Lyon in front of the wicket on a day dominated by Pakistan.
Earlier, Younis hit a record making 103 not out and Shehzad 131 to bolster Pakistan to 286-2 declared. Younis added 168 for the second wicket with Shehzad as Pakistan plundered 248 runs after resuming at 38-0.
Australia conceded a big 151-run lead after being dismissed for 303 in their first knock.
It was actually Shehzad who set the tone for quick runs in the morning.
Shehzad, 22, drove paceman Peter Siddle for his eighth four towards long-on to reach his second Test hundred. Pakistan, 116-1 at lunch, cut loose in the second session against a hapless Australian attack on a flat pitch.
The second and final Test starts in Abu Dhabi on October 30.

SCORES IN BRIEF
PAKISTAN: First innings 454 (Sarfraz 109, Younis 106, Shafiq 89, Misbah 69, Azhar 53; Johnson 3-39)
AUSTRALIA: First innings 303 (Warner 138, Rogers 38; Yasir 3-66, Rahat 2-55, Babar 2-81)
PAKISTAN: Second innings 286 for 2 declared (Shehzad 131, Younis 103 not out; O'Keefe 2-112)
AUSTRALIA: Second innings 59 for 4 in 23 overs (Warner 29, Rogers 23 not out; Yasir 2-8, Babar 2-22)