'No finer compliment': English phenom compared to Adam Gilchrist sets up intriguing Pakistan Test

Jamie Smith bailed out England with a gallant half-century against Pakistan's spin attack on an engineered dry pitch to start the decisive third Test on Thursday.

The 24-year-old has drawn comparisons to legendary Australian keeper-batter Adam Gilchrist, who revolutionised the role of the team's gloveman in a batting innings.

In just eight matches he averages 41.92 with the bat and could come face to face with Gilchrist if he travels Down Under for next year's Ashes series.

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England was on the ropes at 6-118 shortly after lunch until Smith's 89 revived them to 267 all out. Smith and Gus Atkinson (39) combined in a gutsy 105-run stand.

“I want to be someone who does it in all conditions, not just at home against spin and seam,” Smith said.

“To come out here and to put in that performance is quite pleasing.”

Pakistan had been busted used patio heaters and giant fans to dry the pitch out and create a spin-friendly deck in the series decider.

And it worked. Off-spinner Sajid Khan grabbed 6-128, and left-arm spinner Noman Ali had 3-88.

England reduced Pakistan to 3-73 by stumps, still trailing by 194 runs on a pitch fanned, heated and raked by the ground staff at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Skipper Shan Masood and Saud Shakeel, after overturning an on-field decision of a leg-side catch against him, were both 16 not out.

England wicketkeeper Smith smashed six sixes and five boundaries and Atkinson hit five fours as they defied the all-spin attack.

“On a wicket like that you fear that it’s going to deteriorate as the game goes on, so every first innings run is vital," Smith said.

"That partnership took a lot pressure off me ... we complement each other quite nicely (and) he allowed me to sort of knock the ball around at times when he’s playing some shots.”

Smith raised his half-century off 94 balls and accelerated against leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood before top-edging a slog sweep against Mahmood just before tea to miss out on a second century in his ninth test.

Ali dismissed Atkinson, who offered a tame return catch.

Earlier, Khan and Ali bowled all 30 overs before lunch and suppressed the tourist's aggression after captain Ben Stokes won England’s first toss in eight tests.

But Khan rued Pakistan allowing Smith and Atkinson to share a century stand as he dropped a difficult catch at long-off of Smith and Saud Shakeel also couldn't judge an overhead catch close to the boundary.

“Smith played a brilliant knock, but we dropped some chances," Khan said. “Otherwise, we could have bowled them out under 200.”

The pitch encouraged England to include Rehan Ahmed as a third specialist spinner beside Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir.

- with Simon Brunsdon