Australia reached 449 for seven to move within 27 runs of Pakistan on day four of the first Test at Rawalpindi.
Marnus Labuschagne (90) and Steve Smith (78) both missed out on centuries as Pakistan spinner Nauman Ali took four wickets.
Australia resumed on 271 for two after the morning session had been lost to overnight rain and a wet outfield.
Labuschagne added 21 to his overnight score before pushing Shaheen Shah Afridi to Abdullah Shafique at slip.
Smith and Cameron Green put on 81 for the fifth wicket after Travis Head’s swift departure.
Green was caught at short fine leg for 48 attempting to sweep Nauman, and Smith soon fell in the same fashion to the accurate slow left-armer.
Smith gloved behind to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, and the former Australia captain has now scored only one hundred in his last 27 Test innings.
Naseem Shah bowled Alex Carey with a beauty before bad light ended play prematurely once more, leaving a draw very much the probable outcome.
