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PERTH, Feb 4: Young seamer Irfan Pathan took a career-best four for 24 as India bowled Zimbabwe out for 135 before stuttering to a four-wicket win in their one-day triangular series encounter here on Tuesday.
Vangipurappu Laxman, who has made three centuries in the triangular series against Australia and Zimbabwe, took four catches at second slip, one short of the world record set by South Africa's Jonty Rhodes against West Indies 10 years ago.
Stuart Matsikenyeri top-scored with 36 during a Zimbabwe innings which lasted just 34.4 overs on the fast and bouncy WACA Ground wicket.
The match was of limited significance, with India and Australia already qualified for the best-of-three finals. But the 19-year-old Pathan took his chance immediately after being mauled by Australia two days before when taking two for 69 from eight overs.
The left-armer, playing his eighth One-day International, dismissed both Zimbabwe openers in the first over.
Vusi Sibanda was caught by Laxman for a duck and Tatenda Taibu played around an inswinger and was lbw first ball.
Dion Ebrahim was caught by Laxman off Pathan for seven to leave the touring side reeling at 11 for three in the seventh over.
Left-hander Ervine and Stuart Carlisle steadied matters with a 63-run partnership for the fourth wicket before the innings folded. Ray Price was Pathan's last victim, caught without scoring by Laxman.
India struggled to 115 for six in 26.4 overs, Sachin Tendulkar falling to Heath Streak for just three, before Hemang Badani and Pathan added the required 21 runs, with the winning boundary coming in the 31st over.
Left-hander Badani top-scored for India with a patient 34. Laxman made 32 before he was hit on the chest by a Sean Ervine bouncer and the ball dropped onto his stumps.
India rested skipper Saurav Ganguly, Ajit Agarkar and Murali Kartik before the start of the final series on Friday in Melbourne. Zimbabwe finished without a win from eight matches.
Scoreboard
ZIMBABWE:
V. Sibanda c Laxman b Pathan 0
T. Taibu lbw b Pathan 0
S.V. Carlisle run out 28
D.D. Ebrahim c Laxman b Pathan 7
S.M. Ervine c sub b Bhandari 23
H.H. Streak c Laxman b Balaji 6
S. Matsikenyeri c Dravid b Bhandari 36
T.J. Friend c Gavaskar b Bhandari 1
A.M. Blignaut c Sehwag b Nehra 2
R.W. Price c Laxman b Pathan 0
N.B. Mahwire not out 8
EXTRAS (LB-9, W-15) 24
TOTAL (all out, 34.4 overs) 135
FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-1, 3-11, 4-74, 5-79, 6-85, 7-103, 8-114, 9-115.
BOWLING: Pathan 10-1-24-4 (3w); Balaji 10-1-32-1 (8w); Nehra 7-1-39-1 (2w); Bhandari 7.4-0-31-3 (2w).
INDIA:
S.R. Tendulkar c Taibu b Streak 3
V. Sehwag c Matsikenyeri b Blignaut 23
V.V.S. Laxman b Ervine 32
R.S. Dravid b Blignaut 10
Yuvraj Singh c Friend b Ervine 4
H.K. Badani not out 34
R.S. Gavaskar run out 4
I.K. Pathan not out 3
EXTRAS (LB-6, W-15, NB-2) 23
TOTAL (for six wkts, 30.3 overs) 136
FALL OF WKTS: 1-28, 2-34, 3-61, 4-73, 5-105, 6-115.
DID NOT BAT: L. Balaji, A. Bhandari, A. Nehra.
BOWLING: Streak 7-0-36-1 (4w); Blignaut 10-0-41-2 (2nb, 4w); Ervine 8.3-2-29-2 (2w); Friend 5-0-24-0 (5w).
RESULT: India won by four wickets.
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Irfan Pathan.
FIRST FINAL: Australia v India, in Melbourne (D/N), Feb 6.
SECOND FINAL: Australia v India, in Sydney (D/N), Feb 8.
THIRD FINAL (if required): Australia v India, in Brisbane (D/N), Feb 10.-Reuters
