Sami took 3-20 in his opening six-over spell

Pakistan clinched the Sharjah Cup after downing Zimbabwe by eight wickets in Thursday's day/night final.

Mohammed Sami and Shoaib Malik took three wickets each as the Africans were bowled out for 168.

And an unbroken 144-run partnership between Taufeeq Umer and Yousuf Youhana steered Pakistan to victory after two wickets fell early on.

Opener Taufeeq swept his 10th four to take Pakistan home with almost 15 overs to spare, ending an anchor innings that spanned 124 deliveries.

Youhana played an aggressive innings after coming to the crease with the score 28-1, taking 69 balls about his 61, with six fours and a six.

Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak was left to regret his decision to bat first as pace bowler Sami struck with the third ball of the match and snared two further victims within the first nine overs.

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But Pakistan did not finish the job until Malik took a third wicket in the 50th over.

Wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu was the only bright spot for the African side, scoring a career-best 74 not out.

Opener Craig Wishart did not see the end of the first over, after nicking a lifting delivery from Sami behind.

Wicket-keeper Rashid Latif took his second catch, and the 200th of his career when Gavin Rennie edged an out-swinger.

And Sami yorked in-form opener Doug Marillier in his next over.

Malik accounted for Grant Flower and Sean Ervine as both tried to get the off-spinner away square to leave Zimbabwe in deep trouble at 82-5.

Taibu hit a career-best 74 not out

But the lower batting order proved stubborn in aiming to see out their 50-over quota, albeit at a rate of barely more than three runs per over.

A 46-run stand for the fifth wicket between Taibu and Sean Ervine was cut short when umpire Avi Jayaprakash ruled Ervine caught down the leg-side for 25.

Television replays showed the ball clearly miss the edge of the bat on the way to the keeper.

Dion Ebrahim dug in for a doughty 13 in a partnership of 40.

And last man Doug Hondo suvived 36 balls for his nine before he was caught at midwicket off a slog-sweep.

Streak looked like pulling his side back into contention when he struck in the third over, Mohammad Hafeez edging a shorter ball to first slip.

He then had Faisal Iqbal caught at square leg, but the dismissal saw the match-winning partnership join forces.

Pakistan: Rashid Latif (captain), Mohammed Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Faisal Iqbal, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Shoiab Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria, Umar Gul

Zimbabwe: - Heath Streak (captain), Craig Wishart, Douglas Marillier, Grant Flower, Dion Ebrahim, Gavin Rennie, Tatenda Taibu, Sean Ervine, Andy Blignaut, Douglas Hondo, Raymond Price