Pakistan eye whitewash

bulawayo — After a handing a humiliating defeat to Zimbabwe on Thursday, Pakistan would look to complete a whitewash when they take on the hosts on Friday.

The visitors have outplayed Zimbabwe in all three ODIs by not only playing to their own stregnths but also by exploiting every weakness of the Zimbabwean, who were bowled out for 67 in the third ODI on Thursday. To add to Zimbabwe’s woes, Pakistan chased down the target of 68 in just 9.5 overs.

Pakistan won the first ODI by a massive 201 runs and the following two games by nine wickets. Zimbabwe’s highest team total in the series so far has been 194 while Pakistan notched up 308 in the first ODI.

The stark contrast between the two sides, however, could also be put down to Zimbabwe missing

some of their top players. A young Zimbabwe side, thus, has been found lacking against an experienced and in-form Pakistan.

While Faheem Ashraf was the wrecker-in-chief for the visitors in their series-clinching game with his five-wicket haul, Usman Khan Shinwari (seven wickets from three games) has been equally effective. They have been assisted by leg-spinner Shadab Khan (five wickets).

Among the batters, Fakhar Zaman seems to be in the form of his life, having notched up 220 runs in the series at a strike rate of 98.65 with a century – 117* – in the second ODI.

The hosts made several changes to their playing XI for the third ODI with Prince Masvaure replacing Brian Chari, Elton Chigumbura coming in for Tendai Chatara and Liam Roche, who was handed his ODI cap this series, dropped after two matches. However, none of these changes to could inspire any confidence. —