England have set Pakistan 173 to win the second Twenty20 international in Dubai.
Trevor Bayliss's side will win the series if they claim victory this evening following yesterday's 14-run win.
Shahid Afridi drew first blood for Pakistan as he trapped Alex Hales lbw in his first ball, leaving England on 32 inside the first five overs.
The bowler kept the momentum as he later took out Jason Roy, who hit 29 runs, including a boundary and two sixes, off 22 balls.
It was a worrying moment when England went three wickets down as just after hitting a six, Joe Root, who was rested from yesterday's T20, was caught out for 20 by Afridi off the bowling of Shoaib Malik.
James Vince managed to get England back on track by racing to 38 runs off 23 deliveries, but it was Afridi again who hampered his opponent's progress by taking the wicket.
Jos Buttler, who was captain for the match as Eoin Morgan was rested, struck back-to-back sixes in the 16th over, but Pakistan celebrated another wicket when Wahab Riaz dismissed Sam Billings for 11; they needed a review as Umar Akmal's catch was inches close to the boundary.
It got worse for England as Buttler, after hitting a four and then six, got caught behind for 33 trying to sweep off Sohail Tanvir, while Liam Plunkett left the field having scored just one run after getting undone by Anwar Ali.
David Willey (4) was the last wicket to fall as Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid added 11 and three runs respectively before the end of 20 overs.
England reached the total with two wickets remaining.
