Stuart Broad took three wickets in 16 balls as England ripped through Pakistan's top order on the opening day of their third and final Test.

Broad, who had 4-21, dismissed Azhar Ali (one), Younis Khan (four) and Mohammad Hafeez (13) as Pakistan lurched to 53-7 at lunch after deciding to go in first on a seemingly batting-friendly Dubai Stadium pitch.

At the break Asad Shafiq (24) and Saeed Ajmal (one) were at the crease hoping to add some semblance of respectability to the score in the afternoon session.

England, looking to salvage pride after losing the first two Tests and the series in desultory fashion, struck early when James Anderson trapped opener Taufiq Umar for a duck in the first over.

Broad then clicked into gear, snaring Ali in his third over through a caught behind and Younis in his next, caught off a rising delivery, again by wicket-keeper Matt Prior.

He then claimed the Hafeez's wicket trapping him leg before. Australian umpire Simon Taufel initially turned down the appeal but changed the decision after England called for a review.

It got worse for Pakistan, tumbling to 21-5 when Anderson trapped Misbah-ul Haq for one in a decision challenged by the Pakistani skipper to no avail.

Shafiq and Adnan Akmal (six) added 18 for the sixth wicket before Broad changed ends to dismiss the wicket-keeper, again with a sharp incoming delivery which caught the batsmen in front of the stumps.

Graeme Swann then teased a miscued a drive from Abdul Rehman (one) gathered by a grateful Kevin Pietersen at mid-off, leaving Pakistan in danger of being bowled out for their lowest ever Test total -- 53 against Australia in 2002.

Shafiq hit his first boundary in the last over before lunch to take Pakistan level with that tally.