Centurion Asad Shafiq believes Pakistan have to aim for a 100-run lead after he and Younis Khan struck hundreds on the second day of the final Test.
Pakistan must win at The Oval to tie the series and Shafiq's century helped Pakistan to end the day 12 runs ahead with four wickets remaining, with Younis 101 not out.
England dropped three presentable catches earlier in the day but battled back in the last hour, Chris Woakes removing captain Misbah-ul-Haq and debutant Iftikhar Ahmed in the same over.
Shafiq was pleased with his team's progress but called on his colleagues to press on when play resumes on Saturday.
"It’s a very good situation," the batsman told Sky Sports after recording his first century of the series.
"When you bowl first and the other team score 328 and you get a lead on the first innings it is always good. It will really help in the next innings.
"It was really difficult for me previously, because things weren't going my way, my head was falling over. Everything I did wasn't going good. I worked with the batting coach, he told me some things to work on, and I did that.
"We have have to get 100 more from here. A 150-run lead will be excellent."
England assistant coach Paul Farbrace accepted Alex Hales deserved to be fined 15 per cent of his match fee after showing dissent following his dismissal on Thursday. Opening batsman Hales did not believe the catch claimed by Yasir Shah carried and reviewed the decision, only to be dismissed, then visited the third umpire's room.
"It probably wasn't the brightest [idea] to charge in and see the third umpire in the middle of a game," Farbrace said. "You can't have that.
"Whatever was said in there stays in there. He knows he's done wrong. He deserves to be fined. Yes there's frustration, but you have to get on with the game.
"He can play international cricket, he showed that against Sri Lanka, and we think he will become a very good international cricketer. He probably woke up this morning and thought 'I didn't need to do that'."
Farbrace added there was "encouragement" for the players by England's strong end to the day's play, but conceded dropped catches by Hales, James Anderson and Steven Finn had been costly.
"Up until the last 30 minutes, it was a long, tough day," Farbrace said. "The last couple of wickets gives more encouragement.
"Days two and three are the best time to bat. Pakistan's batsmen have earned the right to bat on a good pitch today. We stuck to our plans, but missed chances have been an issue."