DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Younis Khan scored his first half century of the series as Pakistan steadily progressed to 120-2 at tea on the second day of the third and final test against England on Saturday.

Khan and Azhar Ali denied England success in the mid-session after England got a 42-run first innings lead and had reduced Pakistan to 30-2 by lunch in the second innings.

Khan was batting on 54 with Ali not out on 38 as Pakistan, having a decisive lead of 2-0 in the series, stretched its overall lead to 78 runs.

England was earlier dismissed for 141 with leftarm spinner Abdur Rehman taking 5-40 — his second five-wicket haul of the series — and offspinner Saeed Ajmal stretching his wickets tally in the three-match series to 20 with 3-59.

Batting looked somewhat easy on the wicket where Pakistan was skittled out for just 99 on day one and England was also reduced to 104-6.

Khan and Ali waited patiently for the loose deliveries as they did not look in trouble either against spinners or seamer James Anderson to stretch their partnership to 92.

Khan completed his half century off 106 balls when he guided part-timer Jonathan Trott to third man boundary for his sixth four of the innings.

Ali was equally sedate in his batting that must have frustrated England — desperately looking to avoid its first whitewash against Pakistan in the test series.

Anderson had provided England a sniff when he lured lefthanded Taufeeq Umar to play an expansive drive that flew to Andrew Strauss in the slips after Pakistan bowled out England inside first hour.

Mohammad Hafeez (21) lofted Monty Panesar for a straight six and then hit a square cut boundary before he lost his concentration and was trapped lbw by the leftarm spinner in an attempt to play a needless sweep shot.

Earlier, England's search for a sizeable lead was curtailed once Rehman clean bowled Anderson in the first over of the morning after resuming at 104-6.

Strauss hit a gritty 56 off 150 balls in over three and a half hours before he was foxed by Rehman's flighted delivery and was stumped.

Stuart Broad fell lbw to Saeed Ajmal, who brought an end to the innings when Rehman took a catch in the deep to dismiss Graeme Swann (16). Ajmal (3-59) stretched his wickets tally in the series to 20.