Shannon Gabriel's twin strike in the first over kept Pakistan's progress restricted to 3-148 at tea on the first day of the third and final Test against the West Indies in Sharjah on Sunday.
Experienced Younis Khan (51) profited from two West Indies fielding lapses to score a half century and left-handed opening batsman Sami Aslam escaped two close run-out chances to be unbeaten on 72.
Captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who won his third successive toss and opted to bat, survived a contentious lbw appeal off Gabriel on three and prodded to 18 off 57 balls at the break.
Earlier, Gabriel provided West Indies with a dream start when he had Azhar Ali caught in the second slip and then successfully went for an lbw television referral against Asad Shafiq in a dramatic four balls of the first over.
Off-spinner Roston Chase twice came close to dismissing Younis on 30 in the space of three balls before lunch but first Leon Johnson dropped him at mid-wicket and then wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich missed a leg-side stumping.
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Younis revived Pakistan's innings by contributing 106 runs with Aslam for the third-wicket stand before he top edged a sweep off Chase as Pakistan lost only one wicket in the session.
