Pakistan are on course for a 2-0 series win despite being made to work hard in the field at Queens Sports Club.

Home skipper Alistair Campbell and Grant Flower kept them at bay for 40 overs as they shared a stand of 88.

But the tourists ended the day on top with spinner Saqlain Mushtaq having Hamilton Masakadza caught off the final ball to leave them needing only five more wickets for victory.

Andy Flower was 13 not out at the close, but it will take a major innings from him to give Zimbabwe any hope of avoiding defeat.

Pakistan batsman Yousuf Youhana made 159 earlier in the day as they achieved a 225-run first innings lead.

He hit 21 boundaries before falling to left-arm spinner Ray Price, who finished with four for 116.

There was also a maiden Test half-century for wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, who contributed 56 to a partnership of 121.

Zimbabwe needed a solid start in reply but Dion Ebrahim made only seven before he was lbw to Waqar Younis.

The Pakistan skipper struck again in his next over when Mark Vermeulen fell in similar fashion after hitting five fours in his 26.

Campbell and Grant Flower were in defiant mood, however, and capitalised on some wayward bowling by paceman Shoaib Akhtar, whose first six overs cost 53 runs.

He proved more a handful when he returned to the attack later on and struck a vital blow when he bowled Flower off his pads for 43.

Zimbabwe's hopes faded further when Campbell's vigil came to an end when Mohammad Sami found a way through his defence after making 62 in three and a half hours at the crease.

Zimbabwe: Dion Ebrahim, Mark Vermeulen, Hamilton Masakadza, Alistair Campbell (captain), Grant Flower, Andy Flower, Tatenda Taibu, Andy Blignaut, Mluleki Nkala, Ray Price, Henry Olonga.

Pakistan: Taufeeq Umar, Salim Elahi, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Hasan Raza, Kamran Aktal, Saqlain Mushtaq, Waqar Younis (captain), Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami.

Umpires: S Venkataraghavan, D Orchard.

Match referee: C Lloyd.