SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Captain Alastair Cook partnered with Ian Bell to thwart Pakistan's spin challenge and guide England to 87-1 at lunch on the second day of the third and decisive test on Monday.

Cook was not out on a sedate 48 while Bell, struggling for runs in the series, was unbeaten on 24.

England was 147 runs behind Pakistan's first innings total of 234.

Shoaib Malik provided the lone success of the morning session when Moeen Ali top edged a sweep to Younis Khan in the slips.

Pakistan leads the three-match series 1-0 after winning the second test by 178 runs.

Scoreboard

Monday at lunch on the second day of the third test between Pakistan and England at Sharjah Cricket Stadium:

Pakistan 1st Innings: 234

England 1st Innings

(Overnight 4-0)

Alastair Cook not out 48

Moeen Ali c Younis Khan b Malik 14

Ian Bell not out 24

Extras (1nb) 1

TOTAL: (for 1 wicket) 87

Overs: 34.

Still to bat: Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, Samit Patel, Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad, James Anderson

Fall of wicket: 1-19

Bowling: Rahat Ali 3-2-9-0, Yasir Shah 9-0-31-0, Wahab Riaz 7-2-10-0 (1nb), Zulfiqar Babar 10-1-21-0, Shoaib Malik 5-2-16-1

Toss: won by Pakistan.

Umpires: Bruce Oxenford, Australia, and Chris Gaffaney, New Zealand.

Third Umpire: Paul Reiffel, Australia. Match Referee: Andy Pycroft, Zimbabwe.