Pakistan added a One Day International series victory to their Twenty20 triumph over Zimbabwe as Shoaib Malik once again shined with the bat to earn himself a Test recall for the upcoming series against England.
Bilal Asif, in just his second ODI having made his debut in the previous game, was the star with the ball for the visitors, taking 5-25 as Zimbabwe collapsed to 161 all out.
All the Pakistan batsmen then made starts but it was Malik who finished the game off in style, smashing 34 off 28 balls to guide his team to a seven-wicket victory.
The 33-year-old will now get the chance to resume his Test career, having played his last match in 2010, after a fine 2015 in which he averages 100 in 11 ODI innings with three fifties and a century.
Zimbabwe had started well after being put in, the hosts looking to back up their tight victory in the second ODI and win the series.
Chamu Chibhabha and Richmond Mutumbami added 89 for the first wicket and had began well against the spin of Asif before the former popped up a return catch on 48 sparking the collapse.
Pakistan’s spin duo of Asif and Imad Wasim took eight wickets between them as Zimbabwe lost ten wickets for just 72 runs as they were bowled out for 161.
Asif then made a quickfire 38 at the top of the innings with Ahmed Shehzad (32) Asad Shafiq (38*) and Malik (34*) sealing a comfortable victory and series win.
However, it wasn’t all good news for Pakistan as the second ODI loss at the hands of Zimbabwe meant they remained ninth in the Official ICC ODI Rankings.
On top of that Asif has been reported for a suspect action following the final ODI and will have to get his action tested within the next two weeks but he is free to bowl until the results of the test are concluded.
Trent Bridge will host England's One-Day Internationals against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2016. Sign up here to be the first to hear about fixture and ticketing information for these two matches.