Prolific Mishra completes series whitewash

Cricket365
August 7, 2013

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra's Man of the Match performance carried India to a resounding seven-wicket win – and five-nil series triumph – in Saturday's fifth and final ODI at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

Mishra's fine figures of six for 48 in 8.5 overs resigned Zimbabwe to a mere 163 all out, after which a commanding half-century from batsman Ajinkya Rahane and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja's quickfire 48 ensured victory with all of 96 deliveries to spare.

The match was effectively decided in the morning, when India won the toss and put Zimbabwe in to bat. Sean Williams made 51 while Hamilton Masakadza contributed 32, but theirs were the only significant scores.

Zimbabwe's innings never developed any rhythm as Vusi Sibanda was out early for just five, caught behind off Jaydev Unadkat, before Brendan Taylor followed for a duck shortly after to give Mohit Sharma his sole wicket.

Timycen Maruma added only four before departing caught behind off Mohammed Shami and the hosts were on 45 for four when opener Masakadza's innings came to an end, bowled between bat and pad by Jadeja.

Williams did his best to steady the ship and, although Malcolm Waller went for eight to give Mishra his first wicket of the day, Elton Chigumbura stuck around long enough for the score to move on to 122 before his was the sixth wicket to fall, trapped lbw by Mishra.

The tail offered marginally more resistance than the top order, with Natsai Mushangwe making 16 and Kyle Jarvis 12 not out, but the game was up for Zimbabwe once Mishra had Williams caught by Virat Kohli in the slips.

While Mishra was the only Indian bowler with more than one wicket to his name, Unadkat had done a fine job of frustrating Zimbabwe, conceding just eight runs, and taking one wicket, from his six overs.

With such a low total to aim at, India were always in control, even if opener Cheteshwar Pujara was out for a duck in the first over. Shikhar Darwan added a swift 41 off 38 balls before Jarvis had him caught behind, while Rahane made 50 before Waller bowled him between bad and pad.

By then, India had already made 126 in less than 28 overs, and it was left to Jadeja and Dinesh Karthik to see them home, Jadeja winning it in style with a huge six off Waller on the final ball of the 34th over.

Mishra was named Player of the Series, after equaling former fast bowler Javagal Srinath's record of 18 wickets in a bilateral ODI series.