Younis Khan hit a double century as Pakistan wrested control on the fourth day of the first Test against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Friday.
Younis hit 200 not out to enable Pakistan to declare on 4-419, setting Zimbabwe an unlikely 342 to win.
The home side reached 1-13 at the close, losing Tina Mawoyo in the last over of the day, leg before wicket to Saeed Ajmal.
Off-spinner Ajmal, who took seven for 95 in the first innings, will be the main threat to the Zimbabwe batsmen on the last day on a deteriorating pitch.
It was a monumental performance by Younis, who batted for 10 hours 12 minutes and faced 404 balls, knowing for much of his innings that his side would be in danger of defeat if he was dismissed.
Pakistan were in deep trouble at 3-23 early in his innings. He shared a century partnership with captain Misbah-ul-Haq on Thursday but the tourists were still vulnerable when Asad Shafiq was bowled in the first over on Friday, with Pakistan only 91 ahead with five wickets remaining.
Another century stand, with wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal, who made a career-best 64, steered Pakistan towards safety.
An unbroken last wicket partnership of 88 with Rahat Ali (35 not out) took the game away from a tiring Zimbabwe team.
Patience was the hallmark of Younis’s innings until he cut loose in the last wicket stand, adding his last 51 runs in quick time.
Misbah delayed the declaration, first signalling two more overs as Younis neared a double century, then indicating a further over when Younis was on 194 when the allotted two were complete. Younis hit off-spinner Prosper Utseya to reach the landmark and the declaration was immediate.
It meant Pakistan had only eight overs to bowl at Zimbabwe before the close of play.