SHEIKHUPURA, Feb 2: Displaying total dominance with the bat and ball here on Saturday, Pakistan completed a clean sweep of the five match one-day series against Zimbabwe, registering a crushing seven-wicket win in the final match at the Sheikhupura Stadium.

Chasing 182 for victory — the lowest winning target set by the Zimbabweans in the current series — Pakistan romped home by reaching 187-3 with 19 overs to spare. Senior batsman Younis Khan hit a quickfire 51-ball 63 while debutant Khurram Manzoor contributed 73-ball 50.

Earlier, Pakistan also dominated with the leather through some fine bowling by Abdur Rauf and Wahab Riaz and Shoaib Malik had restricted the visitors to 181 all in 45.4 overs. The 29-year-old medium-pacer Rauf from Okara, who finally got a chance after giving an impressive performance at the domestic level for many years, justified his selection by finishing the top wicket taker for Pakistan with three for 45.

Pakistan, in an attempt to ensure victory before rain or poor light, went about the task in a ruthless manner. Openers Nasir Jamshed and debutant Khurram Manzoor gave a brisk start of 40 in 6.1 overs. Nasir was brilliantly caught by Keith Dabengwa for 19 with two fours. Nasir, playing his first series, became the third highest run-getter with an aggregate of 197 in five matches, behind Mohammad Yousuf (223) and Sean Williams (211). His departure brought in Younis Khan and he alongwith Khurram put all the Zimbabwe bowlers to sword. They plundered 97 runs off just 106 balls to take Pakistan’s total to 137.

The hosts then suffered two quick blows at the hands of left-arm orthodox Ray Price who sent back both Younis and Khurram in a space of two overs. Khurram, trying to sweep Price was clean bowled after completing a fine 50 in his first international game. He struck six fours and faced 73 balls.

Misbah-ul-Haq (31 not out off 32 balls, four fours and one six) and Fawad Alam (10 not out) took Pakistan home to complete a 5-0 victory. Misbah hit Price over the long off for a big six to complete the win.

Earlier, electing to bat first, Zimbabwe’s innings was in tatters straightaway and they were struggling at 67-5 at one stage. However, Brendon Taylor (49) and Elton Chigumbura (34) steadied the innings with some fine hitting. Zimbabwe had been jolted by Rauf-Wahab combination who got rid of captain Hamilton Masakadza (6), Tatenda Taibu and Sean Williams (19) between them to make it 25-3. Opener Vusi Sibanda was run out, thanks to a brilliant throw from debutant Rizwan Ahmad as the total read 64-4.

When Shoaib Malik trapped Chamu Chibhabha (1) leg before wicket the visitors were reeling 67-5. But Taylor and Chigumbura retrieved the situation with the sixth-wicket stand of 84 runs and took the score to 152-5. Another batting collapse followed and the visitors lost their last four wickets for just 29 runs to be all out for 181 in 45.4 overs. Younis Khan was named as the Man-of-the-Match.

Scoreboard