BULAWAYO: Pakistan thrashed Zimbabwe by nine wickets to win the third ODIand take a decisive lead in the five-match one-day international series onWednesday.
Seamer Faheem Ashraf took a career-best five for 22 as Pakistan skittledthe hosts for just 67 – the home side´s lowest ever score against Pakistan,and the lowest ever recorded in 78 ODIs at Queens Sports Club.
The Green Shirts then chased down the meagre target in under 10 overs andwith nine wickets to spare.
Zimbabwe won the toss and opted to bat first, but Pakistan struck afterjust one over.
Opener Prince Masvaure, caught out by a lifter from Usman Khan, leftZimbabwe were under the gun on 1 for 1.
The hosts were wobbling at 26 for 3 but worse was to come when Ashraf cameon as first change in the 10th over.
He quickly had Peter Moor brilliantly caught in the slips by Babar Azambefore trapping Chamu Chibhabha leg before wicket with a skidding fulldelivery.
He then had Elton Chigumbura caught behind and bowled Ryan Murray asZimbabwe slipped to a perilous 54 for 8.
Tailenders Wellington Masakadza and Blessing Muzarabani clung on for sevenovers, but legspinner Shadab Khan eventually removed Muzarabani with agoogly and Ashraf then returned to end the innings with a pinpoint yorker.
That delivery clean bowled no. 11 Richard Ngarava, giving Ashraf his maideninternational five-wicket haul.
Playing XI
Pakistan:Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali,Sarfraz Ahmed(w/c), Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Yasir Shah, Junaid Khan,Usman Khan
Zimbabwe: C Chibhabha, P Masvaure, H Masakadza (c), T Musakanda, P Moor, EChigumbura, R Murray, T Chisoro, W Masakadza, B Muzarabani, R Ngarava -APP/AFP