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Young Kedar Jadhav struck his maiden international century as India thrashed Zimbabwe by 83 runs in the third and ODI to complete a 3-0 series whitewash in Harare.
Jadhav smashed a career-best 105 not out off just 87 balls to help India recover from a top-order collapse and post a competitive 276/5 after being asked to bat at the Harare Sports Club.
Jadhav, in the able company of Manish Pandey (71), put on a crucial 144-run stand for the fifth wicket to revive India after they were reduced to 82/4 after just 21 overs.
Chasing the target, Chamu Chibhabha kept Zimbabwe in the hunt with an 82-run knock but the hosts kept on losing wickets from the other end to be eventually bowled out for 193 in 42.4 overs.
Chibhabha, the most successful batsman for the hosts in the series with two consecutive half centuries, played a gritty knock that came off 109 balls with the help of seven boundaries.
Zimbabwe’s chase never got going after the early dismissal of Hamilton Masakadza (7), who fell LBW to Mohit Sharma (2/33) in the sixth over.
Stuart Binny was the pick of the Indian bowlers claiming 3 wickets for 55 runs and veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh (2/35) too came to the party and picked up two wickets -- Sikander Raza (13) and Graeme Cremer -- in consecutive balls of the final over of his spell to guide India to the 83-run victory.
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