Harare: Pakistan dominated the final at Old Harareens on Tuesday to clinch the Under-19 tri-series ODI series by nine wickets.
Chasing a modest target of 159, Pakistan cruised to victory with the loss of just one wicket thanks to a brilliant opening partnership between Sameer Minhas and Mohammad Shayan.
Both put on a solid 50, putting the early pressure on the hosts and taking the game firmly away from Zimbabwe.
Minhas continued his excellent form with the bat, scoring a well-deserved half-century – his third of the tournament – to make it a magnificent century.
The right-handed batsman played with authority and intent, dominating the bowling attack and leaving little room for his partner to score freely.
The opening pair added 145 before the stand was finally broken, with Minhas dismissed by Leeroy Chivaula.
He scored 114 runs off just 51 balls with 17 fours and 5 sixes.
The green shirts chased down the target in the 17th over as Shayan remained unbeaten on 38 off 42 balls with 4 fours and a six, while Usman Khan scored 2 off five balls.
Batting first, Zimbabwe got off to a poor start, losing two wickets in the opening over. Omar Saif dismissed opener Samuel Muyambo for just one run off 8 balls, followed by a duck from the first ball by Gian Plignat.
The pressure continued to mount on the hosts as Zip hit Dakutswa Makoni for 5 off 12 balls in the fourth over and Brandon Ndiweni for one off 3 balls in the sixth over.
Zimbabwean skipper Kubakwashe Muradzi added little resistance, falling to Mohammed Sayam for a 15-ball six as his side reeled at 15-5 from seven overs.
Leeroy Chivaula and Michael Plignat then tried to stabilize the innings with a 33-run partnership, but Chivaula fell to Ahmed Hussain for 15 off 34 balls, including a six.
Michael Plignat continued to anchor the innings and was joined by Penny Juice, who contributed key runs.
However, their 58-run partnership was broken when Zimbabwe were 106-7 in 34.2 overs when Abdul Subhan Penny was dismissed for 16 off 50 balls.
Blignot eventually reached a well-earned half-century, scoring 60 off 102 balls with 8 boundaries, before falling to Daniel Ali Khan as the visitors were now 135-8 in 40.5 overs.
Banashe Masai was run out for 3 and the final wicket was Sheldon Masvidorera who fell to Suban off the first ball to end Zimbabwe’s innings on 158 runs.
Pakistan’s Umar Zaib was the standout bowler, taking 4/20 in seven overs. Abdul Subhan took 2 wickets and Mohammad Syam, Daniel Ali Khan and Ahmed Hussain took one each.