Pakistan threatened to implode on Thursday as England moved to the brink of a crushing series whitewash with three days still remaining in a one-sided third Test at Edgbaston. Joe Root's men have totally dominated the three-match series against the hapless tourists and did not relinquish their grip during a fast-paced second day in Birmingham. The home side raced to 453 at more than five runs an over in response to Pakistan's paltry first-innings total of 133 to make victory almost inevitable. 

But worse was to come for the much-changed visitors, who found themselves 0-2 after four balls of their second innings, with Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique back in the pavilion, both dismissed by Ollie Robinson. That raised the embarrassing spectre of a two-day defeat for a side that is a pale shadow of the great Pakistan teams of the past. But Azan Awais and the experienced Shan Masood ensured there were no more immediate dramas, steadying the ship to reach 46-2 after 11.4 overs as rain stopped play. The delay proved brief but Pakistan had added just six runs to their tally before the rain returned, forcing the players from the field as umbrellas shot up around the ground.