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Pakistan has set up and enthralling final day of the third Test, reaching the close with a score of 0-73, requiring 278 more runs to win, with all ten second innings wickets remaining.
Australia will still be favourites after setting Pakistan a mammoth 351 to win on a slow, wearing pitch.
However, thanks to Imam-ul-Haq (42) and Abdullah Shafique's (27) impressive partnership through the evening session, all three results remain on the table in what is proving to be a fascinating Test.
History is against the hosts: No team has successfully chased down a total higher than 208 in Tests at Lahore, and no fourth innings has lasted longer than 107 overs at the venue.
However, thanks to the effort of their openers, Pakistan will fancy their chances after just three wickets fell on the fourth day in Lahore despite the crumbling track.
Australia had resumed its second innings on 0-11 and quickly went about amassing a large total thanks to a partnership of 96 between Usman Khawaja (104 not out) and David Warner (51).
Khawaja, whose form with the bat since returning to the land of his birth has seen him score 496 runs at an average of 165.33, scored his second century of the series in typically unflappable style.
It could have been so different though when he was given a reprieve on 31 after Naseem Shah (1-23) bowled him off a no ball.
Warner too received a life early, feathering a ball through to Mohammad Rizwan off the bowling of Hasan Ali when on 16 only for nobody to appeal.
Shaheen Shah Afridi (1-45) was the man to eventually break the partnership, bowling Warner off stump.
After their brief head-to-head at the end of yesterday's match, the pair exchanged a laugh and a handshake as Warner departed the field.
Marnus Labuschagne (36) was also given a life when he was dropped on 11 by Nauman Ali, but Nauman somewhat atoned for his error by earning the number three's wicket, caught by Sajid Khan at deep midwicket.
Steve Smith (17) came and went caught behind off the bowling of Naseem on review, before Travis Head's (11) cameo brought Australia up to its 350 target.
It was a sporting declaration by Australia, but Cummins would have hoped to have made a breakthrough in the 27 overs before the close.
However, the only real chance either Pakistani opener offered came in the very last over when part-timer Marnus Labuschagne found the edge of Shafique, only to see Smith wrong footed at first slip and the ball pass through for four.
More worrying for Cummins was the lack of reverse swing or penetration from his quick bowlers, himself included, that did the damage in the first innings.
There was no sign of the ball reversing, meaning much will rest on how Nathan Lyon (0-23) and Mitchell Swepson (0-23) bowl on a pitch starting to offer sharp turn out of the extensive rough patches either side of the wicket.
If Australia can't make an early breakthrough tomorrow, the pressure will pile on Cummins, who must now hope for quick wickets or else risk losing a series Australia looked to be in an enviably strong position in just 24 hours ago.
Regardless, it sets up a fascinating final day of the series.
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
Pakistan vs Australia, third Test
Audience comment by Pete
Cheers Simon, all down to the final day, thats what good cricket tests provide. Cheers mate.
By Simon Smale
Close: Pakistan 0-73 (Abdullah Shafique 27 off 69, Imam-ul-Haq 42 off 93)
Well, what a barnstormer of a final day we have in store for us tomorrow.
Australia would have been desperate to take at least one wicket this evening, probably more, but have been thwarted by some really mature, sensible batting by Pakistan's openers.
The pressure goes back on to Pat Cummins tomorrow, but he cannot carry the team on his own and needs to have his spinners work their magic on a deck that is crumbling to pieces underneath them.
That's where this game will be won and lost, unless this ball starts to reverse swing tomorrow, of which there was precious little sign this evening.
It's all set up beautifully.
You gotta love Test cricket. See you tomorrow.
Audience comment by Mike
Thanks again Simon, tomorrow should be interesting.
By Simon Smale
27th over - Marnus Labuschagne to bowl the last
No reverse swing for the quicks, so why not throw some chaos into the mix.
One slip in place, that's it in terms of the close catchers.
Good flight, a bit of an uppish checked drive into the short cover region, taken on the bounce by Warner.
BOUNCE! Good ball turning off middle to outside off.
Sharp turn from Labuschagne, outside off though so well watched by Shafique.
Oh that ball kept very low! Under the big expansive drive of Shafique who gets a couple of byes!
EDGED! PAST SMITH FOR FOUR! A genuine edge, the expansive drive was ill-advised by Shafique, and Smith was going the wrong way again, forced to check and he could only get a thumb on it.
A forward defensive to end the over, and the day.
By Simon Smale
26th over - Mitchell Starc to bowl once more
Four! Two slips got very interested there as Imam-ul-Haq slashes the bat at a wide one and safe into a big gap backward of point for four!
Solid forward defensive shot as Starc offers no width.
Oh my word that kept low, 140kph and Imam-ul-Haq had to throw that bat down at the last second to keep it out. Superb batting, Imam-ul-Haq ended up on his knees.
BOUNCER! Imam-ul-Haq ducks down again as the ball flies well over his head.
Imam-ul-Haq fends at a ball outside off that had good bounce on it and it's through point for a couple of runs.
Down the leg side from Starc. No contact with the bat, another good take from Carey.
By Simon Smale
Regardless of a win/lose/draw at least the pitch is providing more entertainment than the last two highways!-Doc
It's been a fascinating contest, it really has.
By Simon Smale
25th over - Cameron Green waits to bowl his third of the innings
The Pakistan batters are taking their time, leading to a reprimand from umpire Dar, but now they're set, Cameron Green wants to re-set his field.
Green steams in, Imam-ul-Haq is forward defending.
He does the same again, this time screaming out "No!".
It's a bit quiet out there from an Australian perspective.
Imam-ul-Haq is seeing the ball so well that he was able to wait on that and try to guide it down to third man.
Solid defence from Imam-ul-Haq.
One slip in place, Green is too straight so Imam-ul-Haq has no trouble defending back down the pitch.
Cut backward of square for a single to end the over.
By Simon Smale
Well if I rated the 97 run declaration (after no enforcing the f/O) in the last test a 1/10, I'm glad to see Cummins tactical nous improving
This declaration was a solid 3/10.
-LW
Audience comment by Pete
50 runs short on the declaration, most will think, but having said that, history tells us no Team has survived more than 107 overs in the final dig, my prediction is when the tumble starts on the last day you wont stop it.
By Simon Smale
24th over - Mitchell Starc is coming back into the attack
How important is this burst from Mitchell Starc. If the ball is reversing, this will be a real test.
Around the wicket, angling in to Shafique, who defends solidly.
There's two slips in place for the one that leaves the right hander.
Another solid defensive shot there from Shafique.
Shafique playing the ball away from his body, full pitched outside off, for no run.
Solid defence from Shafique back down the pitch to Starc.
Outside off, Starc coming really wide on the crease to deliver those balls angling in.
Tellingly, no reverse swing just yet.
Solid defence to finish from Shafique, who sees out the maiden over.
By Simon Smale
23rd over - Cameron Green comes in again
Imam-ul-Haq defends the first couple.
Shaheen Shah Afridi is padded up as the night watchman, in case he's needed with 19 minutes to go in the day.
CLOSE! Imam-ul-Haq cuts at a ball that might have swung into him a little bit there and the ball just bounces down past the off stump.
Imam-ul-Haq berates himself. Now is not the time for silly mistakes.
He sees out the rest of the over.
By Simon Smale
Worried, people?
Please, please, please. One or two wickets tonight please!!-Steph in Melbourne
I'm not concerned by the current run rate, it's still early isn't it Simon? ...........Simon?............. SIMON, THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING-Mike
So about that declaration.
-Chris
There's still a loooong, way to go in this match on this wearing pitch.
Don't panic. Yet.
By Simon Smale
22nd over - Nathan Lyon keeps coming in
And Imam-ul-Haq keeps coming at him, using his feet to get to the pitch.
That kept low! Imam-ul-Haq dies brilliantly to adjust his intended cut to jam the bat down on the ball and keep it out.
Imam-ul-Haq pushes forcefully into the off side for no run.
EDGED! A thick outside edge runs down to third man - Imam-ul-Haq did flash at it and it was relatively safe.
He's back forward now, pushing back down the ground.
Back now, Imam-ul-Haq on the back foot slapping the ball into the leg side for a single, Cummins saving a run with a good slide and pick up.
Audience comment by Rumplestiltskin
That mangy groundhog has turned up again<br>With holes in her hide, and reeking of gin<br>Fourteen long days mostly same after same<br>We've got 10 gallons more so we'll do it again
By Simon Smale
21st over - Cameron Green will come into the attack
One slip in place, Imam-ul-Haq on strike and he fends into the off side, drops and runs and gets a single.
The right handed Shafique pushes into the off side.
Great take by Carey, diving down the leg side to save four from a bouncer that Imam-ul-Haq got under.
Green is bowling up at 137kph, forcing Imam-ul-Haq onto the back foot. No run.
Imam-ul-Haq now pushes off his pads square of the wicket for no run.
A bit fuller this time and Imam-ul-Haq gets a single to midwicket tucking off his toes. Excitement behind the stumps, might have just tailed in a bit there, but not much swing.
CLOSE! Inside edge stops Shafique from being trapped in front, a lovely ball that definitely tailed in a touch and was half an inch from finding the gap between bat and pad.
By Simon Smale
There must be some pretty decent pitch deterioration to be rotating the spinners when Cummins and Starc are on