The fight appears to have gone out of Pakistan - they turn back to Iftikhar Ahmed, who bowled two unremarkable overs of off-spin earlier, as many of their fans are trooping towards the exits. Buttler and Taylor nudge a couple of singles to reduce the target to 13 off 69 balls.

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special in Sharjah

Image source, Getty Images

"It would be nice for Buttler to get a half century here. He didn't have the best game with the gloves, but I think we all want to see him fire. Sometimes I think it does you better in terms of confidence to have to grind out the runs."

That's the century stand, from only 93 balls, as Taylor and Buttler take England to within three or four big shots of taking a 2-1 lead in the series.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

"Zafar made a bit of a Horlicks of that. He should have caught it, and it went down between his legs for four. He's a better cricketer than that."

Taylor dropped on 54published at 37.1 overs

37.1 overs

Eng 188-4

After all that build-up, young Gohar blots his copybook when Taylor sweeps at Malik, the ball sails to deep backward square leg and Gohar is caught in two minds - neither taking the catch nor cutting out the four.

Jay: Taylor eats giants for breakfast.

Image source, AFP

Pakistan are going for broke here, this is young Zafar Gohar's last over. Skipping in to bowl slow left-arm, moving between the umpire and the stumps, his over concedes four runs - so he finishes with 2-54 on his debut.

Radio 4 LW listeners are whisked off for the Shipping Forecast. The Sharjah Forecast is an England win - 25 needed from 78 balls.

Kevin Howells
BBC Test Match Special in Sharjah

"England have a look of some confidence about them, but the tempo of this game has been so hard to predict."

With only 31 more needed, Buttler might have to get his skates on if he's to make 50 - he's on 32, with his partner in supreme form. But with the run of scores he's had, I'd wager Buttler would be happy just to be there at the end without losing his wicket. England up to 180 - a great score in darts, an even better score in cricket when it means you only need 29 more from 84 balls.

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

"Nice dismissive way to get to your 50. He showed that intent - the field was up, and he went for it."

50 for James Taylorpublished at 35.2 overs

35.2 overs

Eng 178-4

James Taylor reaches his fifty from 51 deliveries, smacking the recalled Shoaib Malik for a flat, straight six which lands just on the rope. Well batted.

Kevin Howells
BBC Test Match Special in Sharjah

"I enjoyed James Taylor's runs today almost as much as I enjoyed Ross Taylor's runs at the Waca against Australia. If ever there's a decent man in cricket, it's Ross Taylor. He always says hello to me!"

Image source, Getty Images

Gohar spins down his ninth over, again Buttler and Taylor are carefully picking off singles before the latter comes within sniffing distance of a half-century when he straight-drives past his partner to move to 46 from 50 balls. England need 38 from 90 deliveries.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Irfan was quite venomous with the new ball, but I think the extra bounce he gets with the old ball actually helps the batsman."

Image source, AP

Irfan has had a change of ends, running in from the far end for the first time today, and Taylor takes one hand off the bat as he lofts the ball over the ring of off-side fielders and past long-off for four. There's then a comedy moment as the Notts man unleashes a cracking pull shot, it's half-stopped on the boundary by the tumbling Wahab Riaz but the ball trickles onto the rope. An expensive over leaves 45 needed from 96 balls.

Greg Double: England in control now - time for Pakistan to Gohar or go home.

Another lbw appeal as Taylor sweeps. Same result - Pakistan's lack of a review may come back to haunt them, having wasted it against Alex Hales for that caught behind. But Taylor can't get the rest of the over away - so it's just one from the over.

Charles Dagnall
BBC Test Match Special

Image source, AFP

"This kid Zafar Gohar has got something. They tried to get him in for Abu Dhabi - he was in the Emirates four days previously, had to go back to Pakistan and then couldn't get a visa to come back. Hence why Misbah-ul-Haq was fuming when Zafar couldn't get in on time."

After just one over of Irfan, Pakistan turn back to young left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar who's so impressed the TMS crew today. But less impressive is a full toss which he serves up to Buttler, and the right-hander from Taunton guides it to square leg for one. Taylor hit on the pad, an appeal... nothing doing, it looked to be going down leg.

Taylor dabs a single into the off side. Pakistan are trying to keep tight on the ones, but when you've got two men as speedy between the wickets as Taylor and Buttler, they can seemingly take singles at will. 57 from 108 is the target.