BULAWAYO  -  Zimbabwe have much to do in the final one-day international against Pakistan to ensure they are spared the ignominy of a whitewash.

After sleepwalking to a series win, Pakistan blew life into a dull series courtesy Fakhar Zaman's record-breaking double-century. This sparked tremendous interest momentarily on Friday afternoon in Pakistan. There's little to suggest the joyride won't continue on Sunday, but only a performance of Fakhar's kind again can elicit the same level of interest.

Zimbabwe have shown no fight whatsoever. If 67 all out wasn't the nadir, they were blown away in the fourth ODI by 244 runs - Pakistan's second-biggest ODI win in terms of runs. The batsmen have shown little resolve, and the bowlers have lacked consistency or potency. About the fielding? Less said, the better. Whatever can go wrong, has.

As such international fixtures are few and far between for Zimbabwe. Finances don't allow them the luxury of staging multiple home series. That said, this year has been a bumper one, but even so, the hope with which they began the World Cup Qualifiers has long dissipated. The walloping in the T20I tri-series against Australia and Pakistan has spilled over, and there's a pall of gloom around the state of cricket, as it has been for a better part of the last decade and a half. On Sunday, they can't erase the pain of the home summer, but at least try and put up a fight and give the 500-odd faithful that turn up every match day whether or not there's something to cheer about.

Pakistan have already sealed the series, and seemingly have nothing to lose from here. But the opportunity to do the sweep doesn't come around too often, and that will serve as motivation for the final ODI.

To keep them at bay, Zimbabwe's priority will be to shore up their bowling. In the fourth ODI, Fakhar Zaman's unbeaten double-century headlined a record-breaking batting display from Pakistan, but Zimbabwe's attack didn't really pose them a threat either.

That will have to change on Sunday, and the onus is on the bowlers to step up and take charge. Their batting needs drastic improvement as well. The highest score Zimbabwe have managed so far is the 194 in the second ODI.

The likes of Masakadza, Peter Moor, Elton Chigumbura, Ryan Murray and Donald Tiripano have managed decent starts, but a failure to convert them into big totals have hampered the team.

Zimbabwe will need their batsmen to build partnerships and put a prize on their wickets. If they can manage that, Zimbabwe might just avoid the whitewash.

Donald Tiripano's 71-ball 44 on Friday was one of the few highlights of the Zimbabwe innings. The right-arm pacer's contribution with the bat showed that he is capable of making an impact in both departments, and the home side could use more of his skills in all areas. 

Fakhar Zaman is in the form of his life. So far this series, he has registered scores of 60, 117*, 43* and 210*, and averages an eye-watering 430. He will look to finish the series on a high, and Zimbabwe will be desperate to see him off early.