Pakistani spinner Sajid Khan struck four times to leave the West Indies struggling 54-5 at lunch on the third day of the first Test in their chase to 251 for victory.
West Indies need 197 runs to win as Pakistan chase five wickets in a battle between the two World Test Championship basement teams.
On a tight turning pitch at Multan Stadium, West Indies lost skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (12), Keacy Carty (six), Kavem Hodge (zero) and Mikyle Louis (13) – all to Sajid, who has figures of 4 – 25.
In the final over before the lunch break, his compatriot Noman Ali trapped Justin Greaves’ front leg for nine to give Pakistan a sense of victory.
Alick Athanaze was undefeated on the 12th.
Earlier, Jomel Warrican finished with 7-32 in 18 tricky overs to regroup Pakistan at 157 after resuming at 109-3, managing to add just 48 runs.
Warrican tore through the Pakistan batting line-up with tenacious line and length to claim match figures of 10-101, his maiden 10-wicket haul.
His previous best innings figures of 4-50 came against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2021.
He also bettered the previous best figures by a West Indian in Pakistan, held by fast bowler Malcolm Marshall with 5-33 at Lahore in 1986.
Warrican dismissed overnight hitter Saud Shakeel with the first ball of the day for two, then had Mohammad Rizwan in his next over for the same score.
He continued the demolition act with the wickets of Kamran Ghulam (27), Noman (nine) and Sajid (five).
His compatriot Gudakesh Motie ends the innings by dismissing Salman Agha for 14.
The second match will begin on January 25, also in Multan.
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