Set to make 260 to effect a clean sweep after makeshift opener Craig Wishart's maiden one-day hundred propelled the hosts to 259 for five in 50 overs, India never really recovered from cheap dismissals of Sachin Tendulkar (2) and skipper Mohd Azharuddin (2) to be bowled out for 222 in 47.2 overs.

Left-handers Saurav Ganguly (40: 61b, 5x4) and Robin Singh (57: 66b, 2x4, 3x6) made useful contributions but vice-captain Ajay Jadeja (22: 32b, 2x4) and Rahul Dravid (27: 41b) failed to lend solidity in the middle-order.Zimbabwe, looking for a morale-boosting win were pumped up as they gave an excellent all-round display. Wishart (102: 122b, 4x4, 2x6) made up for skipper Alistair Campbell's (4) early departure with a brisk 113-run fourth wicket stand with left-hander Andy Flower(55: 73b, 3x4, 2x6) and guided the innings till the end.

Pacemen Eddo Brandes (2-25) and Heath Streak (3-33) complimented the batsmen's efforts backed by sharp fielding.

Tendulkar, playing his 200th tie, was dismissed the sixth ball he faced and the rest of the batsmen failed to take charge. The writing clear was clear on the wall after India were reduced to 190 for seven just into the slog overs.

India, who won the first two ties in Bulawayo by identical eight-wicket margins, perhaps gave away extra runs as both paceman Javagal Srinath and leg-spinner Anil Kumble were rested. But their chase was surprisingly subdued as they could score only a paltry 26 for two after 12 overs. Both Tendulkar and Azharuddin were dismissed within the first seven overs.

Scoreboard

Zimbabwe: A Campbell b Agarkar 4, C Wishart c & b Agarkar 102, M Goodwin c Mongia b Robin 22, A Flower c Jadeja b Mohanty 55, C Evans lbw Harbhajan 31, G Rennie not out 28, H Streak not out 7,

Extras (lb 7, nb 1, w 3):11.

Total (for 5 wickets in 50 overs): 259

Fall of wkts: 1-4, 2-39, 3-152, 4-209, 5-240

Bowling: Agarkar 10-1-45-2, Mohanty 10-0-38-1, Robin 7-0-48-1, Harbhajan 10-0-33-1, Ganguly 3-0-12-0, Sanghvi 6-0-47-0, Tendulkar 4-0-30-0

India: S Ganguly c A Flower b Huckle 40, S Tendulkar c Evans b Streak 2, M Azharuddin c Campbell b Brandes 2, A Jadeja c Whittal b Mbangwa 22, R Dravid c Streak b Whittal 27, R Singh c Rennie b Brandes 57, N Mongia c Huckle b Streak 25, A Agarkar run out 19, R Sanghvi b Streak 8, D Mohanty not out 4, H Singh run out 2.

Extras: (b1, lb8, w5) 14.

Total (all out in 47.2 overs) 222

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-10, 3-62, 4-72, 5-126, 6-181, 7-190, 8-209, 9-214

Bowling: Brandes 8.2-2-25-2, Streak 9-1-33-3, Mbangwa 8-0-39-1, Evans 5-0-36-0, Huckle 8-0-35-1, Whittal 9-0-45-1