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After Fluctuating Fortunes in Third ODI India Complete 3-0 Zimbabwe Whitewash at Harare
Batting and bowling inconsistencies on either side made the last match of the ODI series between India and Zimbabwe an intriguing affair. First the Indian top order collapsed and by the 22nd over, the scoreboard read 82/4. Two new batsmen, whose choices were dictated by their IPL performance, enacted a rescue act with a fifth-wicket partnership of 144 and India were back in the game. However the 50-over score of 276 for 5 wasn’t commanding from current ODI standards. That became evident as Zimbabwe nearly made a match of it by scoring 150/3 in the 35th over on the strength of Chamu Chibhabha's determined 82 off 109 balls. With seven wickets in hand, Zimbabwe could easily score 127 in the last 15 overs. But if India recovered from a bad start, Zimbabwe did the opposite of wilting from a reasonably sound beginning. They lost their remaining 7 wickets for mere 43 runs to play in India's hands. The 83-run victory allowed India to sweep the ODI series 3-0 under the new captain Ajinkya Rahane.