Pakistan secured the five-match ODI series victory in their ongoing Zimbabwe tour after thrashing the hosts by 9 wickets (with 241 balls remaining) in the third ODI at Queens Sports Club (Bulawayo) on Wednesday.

Starting the game from 0-2 behind in the series, Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza decided to bat first after winning the toss. But, from the very beginning, their batting suffered a huge collapse that finished the innings on just 67 runs in 25.1 overs.

Only the three Zimbabwe batsmen reached the double-digit scores and they were opener Chamu Chibhabha (16), skipper Hamilton Masakadza (10) and lower-order Wellington Masakadza (10*).

Right-arm pacer Faheem Ashraf grabbed five wickets as his bowling figure was 8.1-2-22-5. Also, Junaid Khan (2/7) picked up two wickets while Usman Khan (1/19), Yasir Shah (1/10) and Shadab Khan (1/6) got one wicket each.

In reply, opener Imam-ul-Haq (0) was dismissed on the very first delivery of the second innings but another opener Fakhar Zaman (43*) and no.3 batsman Babar Azam (19*) comfortably finished the game in 9.5 overs as Pakistan won by 9 wickets.

Only Blessing Muzarabani (1/48) was able to pick up a wicket among the Zimbabwe bowlers.

Brief Scores: Zimbabwe – 67 in 25.1 overs (Chamu Chibhabha 16, Wellington Masakadza 10*; Faheem Ashraf 5/22)

Pakistan – 69/1 in 9.5 overs (Fakhar Zaman 43*, Babar Azam 19*; Blessing Muzarabani 1/43)

Result – Pakistan won by 9 wickets

Important stats highlights of the match:

• The 67 was the lowest completed ODI total for Zimbabwe against Pakistan. The previous record was 94 at Sharjah on April 6, 1997.
• Also, the 67 was the second lowest completed ODI total for any team against Pakistan. The record is 64 by New Zealand at Sharjah on April 15, 1986.
• The highest score in the Zimbabwe innings was just 16 by Chamu Chibhabha. It is the lowest ‘highest knock’ in a completed ODI innings for a team against Pakistan. The previous record was 17 runs (by New Zealand batsman Evan Gray at Sharjah on April 15, 1986).
• Pakistan right-arm medium bowler Faheem Ashraf had a bowling figure of 8.1-2-22-5. It is the third best ODI bowling figure by a Pakistan bowler against Zimbabwe.
• Pakistan chased down the tinny target by losing only one wicket with 241 balls remaining. It is Pakistan’s largest ODI victory (by balls remaining after winning). Their previous record was winning by 8 wickets with 206 balls remaining against New Zealand at Sharjah on May 1, 1990.