THE Zimbabwe Select, Pakistan A cricket series is in the balance going into the final of the six-match series after the tourists defeated their guests at Harare Sports to give themselves a chance of forcing a draw.
Zimbabwe Select lead the series 3-2 following their 177-run defeat on Africa Day.
The Chevrons are using the series to fine tune for the International Cricket Council World Cup qualifier which will be played in Bulawayo and Harare.
Zimbabwe won the toss and Sean Williams challenged Pakistan A to bat first and the Asian side made the most of the conditions, belting 314 runs at the expense of six wickets.
Pakistan A had three half centurions with Omair Yousuf (89) top scoring while Haseebullah Khan and Imran Butt made 62 and 65 respectively.
Zimbabwe bowlers toiled as they struggled to contain the Pakistani attack.
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Brendon Mavuta was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts with 2 for 39 while Sikandar Raza and Luke Jongwe had a wicket apiece.
Brad Evans, who took a fiver in the previous match on Tuesday, was hit for 71 runs in his 9.1 overs.
Having successfully chased a winning target of 296 on Tuesday, there was every hope that Zimbabwe Select could pull this one out of the fire again.
But they lost wickets at regular intervals and never looked like threatening the Pakistani total.
They lost opener Innocent Kaia with just two runs on the board before Wessly Madhevere followed him to the hut 28 runs later.
Wickets continued to tumble as Zimbabwean batsmen made good starts but failing to press-on.
Tadiwanashe Marumani (19), Wessly Madhevere (15), Sean Williams (15), and Milton Shumba (14) all laid the platform but failed to build on.
Inform Clive Madande put some resistance with an unbeaten 41, but he ran out of partners as Zimbabwe folded in 31.4 overs with just 137 runs on the board.
Zimbabwe had an experimental line-up but are likely to go full throttle in the final match where they will be looking to take the series.