England vs Pakistan – Deja vu as Broad demolishes top order

Pakistan are on course for a record low total after being reduced to 37 for six at lunch in the second Test against England at Edgbaston.

The collapse of Pakistan’s openers means the odds for an England win have been slashed to 1/25, a remarkable price with only 26 overs of a five-day Test match completed.

In a similar scenario to that of the tourists’ second innings in the first Test, England’s seam bowlers are running riot, with Stuart Broad on three for 12, Steven Finn on two for 10 and James Anderson on one for 12.

Pakistan (16/1 to win the Test) won the toss and elected to bat but have already lost Imran Farhat and Azhar Ali for nought with Salman Butt (7) and Shoaib Malik (3) dismissed for single figures.

Umar Akmal put on the only show of resistance, making 17 before falling victim to Finn lbw, before Broad claimed his third wicket of the innings by having Zulqarnain Haider caught behind for a golden duck.

Umar Amin (6) and Mohammad Amir (nought) are at the crease and odds of 5/6 for the batsmen to score less than 20.5 and 9.5 runs respectively tell a tale of how weak Pakistan’s batting line-up is.

Pakistan, who did not after all select veteran batsman Mohammad Yousuf following his last-minute arrival from Lahore yesterday, went 49 balls without a run off the bat at one stage until their captain Butt leg-glanced a single off James Anderson.

Pakistan need a determined performance here to battle back in the four-match series after last week’s landslide defeat at Trent Bridge, and there was perhaps some bravado in Butt’s decision to bat first in such awkward conditions with England’s pace attack relishing the invitation to bowl first under heavy cloud cover.

A 4-0 series win for England should be given serious consideration.

Pakistan were knocked off for 80 in their last innings – a record low against England – but that total looks sure to be surpassed. See the full match betting market.