England vs Pakistan: James Vince steadies the ship after early England nerves on the fourth day

Alastair Cook, Alex Hales and Joe Root had all departed to leave England 47 for three at one stage

James Vince in action at the crease (Getty)

James Vince's top Test score of an unbeaten 41 eased England through early trouble to 90 for three at lunch in their final-innings run chase against Pakistan.

The 25-year-old smashed nine fours to settle a nervy England after the hosts lost three vital wickets in their bid for a record final-innings chase of 283 for victory at Lord's.

England need to better their previous top fourth-innings run chase of 282 at Lord's in order to win the first Test of the four-match series against Pakistan.

And Vince's timely intervention stopped the early rot, after Alastair Cook, Alex Hales and Joe Root had all departed to leave England 47 for three at one stage.

Rahat Ali ripped through England's top order with all three wickets for 36 runs, before Vince and Gary Ballance, not out on 15, steadied the ship.

England started their run chase by mounting an assault against Pakistan's seam attack, well aware it was only a matter of time before Yasir Shah would have the chance to flex his deadly leg spin.

Yasir Shah is congratulated by team mates after Rahat Ali had combined to dismiss Joe Root (Getty)

Cook showed promising early signs, only to fall prey to an excellent ball from Rahat with just eight on the board.

Rahat trapped the England captain with a ball that straightened him up and drew the edge behind.

Hales hardly lasted much longer, Ali striking again as England's number two offered a thick edge behind from a loose attempted cut.

That left England on 33 for two from seven owners, and all the while fearing the arrival of leg spinner Shah, whose six first-innings wickets had ripped mercilessly through the hosts' order.

Vince was handed two reprieves from one loose shot, Younis Khan unable to hold at second slip. First Younis palmed the ball into the air at full stretch, then he could not scramble to the looping ball.

Yasir joined the bowling attack with England at 46 for two, but it was Ali who continued his hot streak to leave the hosts in trouble.

Unable to live up to linchpin billing, Root gave his wicket away for the second time in the match.

Joe Root walks back to the pavilion after losing his wicket for nine runs (Getty)

After holing out on a loose shot on 48 in the first innings, here Root miscued a pull off Ali, with Yasir holding firm in the deep, to depart on just nine.

With England 47 for three it was left to Vince and Ballance to step in and add a modicum of calm, though England still face a severe challenge to move to victory.

Pakistan had added just one run to their overnight total of 214 before England took the final two wickets of their second innings at the top of day four's play.

That set England the 283 victory target, with Stuart Broad removing Yasir for 30 and Mohammad Amir to end on three for 38.