KARACHI: Openers Gull Feroza and Sadaf Shamas excelled with the bat as Pakistan outplayed Zimbabwe by nine wickets in the third and final One-day International to record a 3-0 series sweep here at the National Bank Stadium on Saturday night.

Chasing 223, Pakistan romped home in 31.5 overs thanks to Gull who struck an unbeaten ton (106) and Sadaf’s 90.

The result also lifted Pakistan to second spot in the ICC Women’s Championship 2025-29 table with eight points from six matches.

It was only the third time Pakistan women completed a 3-0 sweep in a bilateral ODI series, after their wins over Sri Lanka in 2017-18 and Ireland in 2022-23.

Playing attacking cricket, Gull and Sadaf posted 89 in the first 10 overs to put Zimbabwe bowlers on the backfoot.

The openers, after powerplay, kept the tempo to help Pakistan go past 100 in the 13th over. Gull played some delightful strokes as the right-hander completed her fifty off 42 balls while Sadaf rea­ched her half-century off 51 as Zimb­abwe toiled for wickets.

Gull in the process broke her own record for the fastest ODI century by a Pakistan women’s batter, reaching three figures off just 83 balls — three days after she had set the record with a 93-ball hundred in the second ODI of the series. She also became the second Pakistan women’s batter to score back-to-back centuries in ODIs. Gull’s 106 came off 92 balls and contained 16 fours.

Besides earning the player-of-the-match award, Gull also received the player-of-the-series honours.

Zimbabwe pacer Kudzai Chigora finally gave her team their first wicket in the 32nd over when she dismissed Sadaf but it was way too little and too late as Pakistan by that time had reached 220. Sadaf faced 98 balls and smashed 13 fours.

Earlier after electing to bat, Zimbabwe suffered early blows but recovered to post 222-9 through fighting half-centuries from Beloved Biza and Kelis Ndhlovu.

After 22-2 in the fourth over, Biza (73) and Ndhlovu (51) combined to add 87. But when Ndhlovu was trapped in front by Syeda Aroob Shah in the 23rd over, the visitors started losing wickets regularly. Ndhlovu negotiated 72 balls and cracked eight fours.

At 157-4, when Biza was sent back to the pavilion by Tasmia Rubab — who took 3-49 — Zimbabwe innings lost whatever momentum it had. Biza faced 88 balls and struck 12 fours.

Though Nomvelo Sibanda (35 not out) tried to resurrect the innings, Pakistan bowlers including Tasmia, Aroob (2-36 in eight overs), Ayesha afar (2-13 in six overs) and Momina Riasat (1-39) ensured the hosts remained in charge.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2026