Pakistan thrash Zimbabwe to win series 5-0

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Pakistan completed a series whitewash over Zimbabwe with a 131-run win on Sunday in the fifth and final match at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

Two days after becoming the first player from Pakistan to score a double century in a one-day international, Fakhar Zaman reached a further milestone in becoming the quickest player in history to reach 1,000 runs in the format as Pakistan amassed 364 for 4 in the fifth and final ODI of their tour of Zimbabwe.

Zaman broke the previous record of 21 innings by reaching the mark in his 17th innings in the course of a fluent half century. His opening partner Imam-ul-Haq was also in the runs once again, the pair producing their fourth century stand of the series.

They took the score to 168 in the 25th over before Zaman was caught behind for 85.  While he missed out on what would have been his third hundred of the series, Zaman did also claim the records for most runs in a five-match bilateral series with 515 and most runs scored between dismissals in ODIs, having scored 455 runs since he was last dismissed in the first match of the series.

On a morning for batsmen, Imam-ul-Haq went on to reach his third century of the series, cracking eight fours and a six before he swung across the line and was trapped lbw by left arm spinner Wellington Masakadza for 110.

Though Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali fell cheaply, the carnage continued as Babar Azam raced to a century from 72 deliveries, his second fifty haven taken just 17 balls.

It was his eighth career ODI century and included nine fours and two sixes, Azam doing the bulk of the scoring as Pakistan plundered 63 runs from the last five overs.

In response, Zimbabwe showed much more stickability with the bat than had been the case in the first four games of the series.

Hamilton Masakadza and Tinashe Kamunhukamwe got going with a 66-run opening stand, Zimbabwe's best of the series, and though Zimbabwe never looked like threatening Pakistan's total, the middle order did at least hold firm.

Prince Masvaure made 39 and Ryan Murray contributed 47 - personal bests for both players in their short careers - and Peter Moor finished off with 44 not out in a 67-run stand with Elton Chigumbura, allowing Zimbabwe to reach 233 for 4.

Daily Pioneer
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