Stuart Broad: I don't think it was reckless hitting, more selective

England's Stuart Broad dives to make his ground during his crucial innings against Pakistan in the second Test. Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images

England may not be in the subcontinent, but as this absorbing second Test in Abu Dhabi has developed they have been left in no doubt that they are the away team. A crowd that was estimated by the stadium authorities at 14,000 built up in the evening session, after Friday prayers, and relished the rare boundaries in the defiant fifth-wicket partnership between Azhar Ali and Asid Shafiq, the two youngest batsmen in Pakistan's top six.

That was no surprise to Stuart Broad, who had been given a personal indication of the local support for Misbah-ul-Haq's team when he took a taxi on Thursday. "He was pretty confident they were going to destroy us," Broad said of his driver, one of the tens of thousands of Pakistanis who work in the Gulf. "I had a different view."

Broad should have booked the same driver for the close of the third day, having played the leading role in establishing England's precious first-innings lead of 70 by hitting 58 of the 100 runs added for the last four wickets. It was the ninth time he has gone past 50 in 55 Test innings, with his sole century having come against Pakistan two summers ago in the Lord's Test that will always be remembered for very different reasons, and lifted his batting average closer to 30 – and to parity with a bowling average of 31.

"It was more a personal decision," Broad said of his positive approach – although he insisted he was not thinking of his Abu Dhabi cabbie. "Looking how difficult it seemed to defend against the pressure of the quick-turning ball, I thought my best option would be to try and manoeuvre the field and counterpunch. You have to choose your times to try and grab momentum. Once I hit a couple of boundaries everyone seemed to move out, and I could pick up some singles and twos. I don't think it was reckless hitting, I was a bit more selective and calculated. It paid off, and that lead was pretty important."

Azhar has said Pakistan would back their spinners to defend a lead of anything over 150, leaving them with a modest target of another 100 runs from their last six wickets. But Broad retains more confidence in England's batting – although he is braced for another nerve-jangling day.

"We don't want to be chasing much more than 250," he said, "because scoreboard pressure plays a huge role in Test matches like this. If the wicket plays like it has and maybe gets better, we should be able to chase down 150. It's turning slower. If it starts turning again – and it will be interesting to see what that new ball does – we've got to keep them to as little as possible. Even 150 to 200 is going to be a bit of a nipper. It's going to be tight Test cricket."

Broad praised Monty Panesar for his performance, the first time he has taken three wickets in a Test innings since England's defeat by India in Chennai during December 2008 – with his last four-wicket performance coming five months before that, against South Africa at Lord's. "Speaking to him on the first morning he said it felt like his debut," Broad said. "He was obviously nervous. But he's really built his confidence throughout the Test match."

Azhar and Broad said the teams had relished the atmosphere generated by the Pakistan supporters on the grassy bank who gathered on one side of the ground, before they spilled into the seats at the open end opposite the pavilion.

Previously, that stand had held a few dozen Barmy Army regulars plus a scattering of other England followers, allowing the players to hear David Lloyd opening the TV coverage on Wednesday.

"The first morning of the match, we could hear Bumble commentating," Broad said. "We had to ask the umpire to turn the speakers down. So it was great to have a bit of a crowd intoday – credit to the stadium to let the fans in for free because I think it built up the atmosphere. It was quite lively towards the end, actually."

Kevin Pietersen was off the field for most of the last hour after missing the chance to run out Azhar from short cover when Pakistan's lead was only 23. The injury was described as nothing serious - England must hope that the miss does not prove crucial..