Bulawayo :India on Saturday created history by recording their first-ever five-match ODI series whitewash on foreign soil as they thrashed Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the fifth and final cricket one-dayer, riding on leg-spinner Amit Mishras career-best six wicket haul.
Mishras fine effort of 6 for 48 saw India bowl out Zimbabwe for a paltry 163 in 39.5 overs after opting to bowl and the visitors then chased down the small target comfortably with 16 overs to spare at Queens Sports Club here.The leg-spinner also equalled the world record for most wickets in a bilateral ODI series. He took his series tally to 18, equalling the record held by compatriot Javagal Srinath.
India have recorded three 5-0 series wins at home in the past five years whitewashing England twice and New Zealand once. But, this was their maiden whitewash win in a five-match series away from home.
Ajinkya Rahane, who was playing in his first match of the series, top-scored with a 66-ball 50, shared a crucial 71-run partnership for the third wicket with Ravindra Jadeja to lay the foundation for the win.
The young Indian side under Virat Kohli, who had come here without a few top players, maintained their domination over the home side and ended the series in emphatic style. This series victory also rectified their disappointing performance in this country in 2010 when they lost all their two matches in a tri-series.
