World T20: Scotland already out as first victory remains elusive

Zimbabwe 147-7, Scotland 136 - Zimbabwe win by 11 runs

Mark Watt and Alasdair Evans look dejected as Scotland are beaten again in their World Twenty20 group match against Afghanistan in Nagpur (Getty)

Scotland crashed out of the ICC World Twenty20 yesterday after defeat by Zimbabwe in Nagpur.

Having lost their opening match in Group B to Afghanistan, the Scots needed a first-ever victory in the World Twenty20 – after winless stints in 2007 and 2009 – to remain in the competition.

Set a target of 148, though, Scotland’s top order collapsed and they were eliminated in front of a sparse crowd at the VCA Stadium, with one game still to play.

Fans without tickets were turned away, according to Cricinfo, and asked to go to the old ground, 20km (12.5 miles) away, as there are no ticketing facilities at the new 45,000-capacity stadium.

Those who did make it in saw the Zimbabwe opener Hamilton Masakadza crash his way to 12 but a collision of a different kind led to his dismissal in the third over.

Fellow opener Vusi Sibanda set off for a single and, with both batsmen ball-watching, they bumped helmets and Masakadza was run out.

Sibanda needed treatment after the incident and was clearly affected, as he clipped Alasdair Evans to deep square leg, where Matt Machan was waiting, in the next over.

Michael Leask then caught Richmond Mutumbami – at the second attempt – and Sikandar Raza was bowled by Evans to leave Zimbabwe toiling on 67 for 4 after 10 overs.

Sean Williams, though, fired 53 from 36 balls to steady the innings before being caught by Evans off Safyaan Sharif.

Elton Chigumbura also offered some resistance but was caught for 20, with Sharif claiming his second victim from the final ball of the innings as Zimbabwe were restricted to 147 for 7.

Any hopes Scotland had of a first win in a limited-overs tournament were extinguished when they lost George Munsey, Matthew Cross, Machan and Kyle Coetzer within the first 19 balls.

Cross was dismissed for a duck as Tendai Chatara and Wellington Masakadza (four for 28) shared two wickets apiece to leave Scotland reeling on 20 for 4.

Leask was the next to go for just nine before Richie Berrington (36) and the captain, Preston Mommsen (31), rallied to put on a sixth-wicket stand of 51.

And despite Josh Davey’s quick-fire knock of 24 from 13 balls, Scotland came up short. They now face Hong Kong tomorrow looking to end their limited-overs hoodoo, but with hopes of going any further already over.

In yesterday’s other game Afghanistan booked a winner-takes-all contest against Zimbabwe tomorrow for the right to play against a top-tier nation after a six-wicket victory over Hong Kong in Nagpur.

Asghar Stanikzai’s men chased down a victory target of 117 with 12 balls to spare to claim their second Group B triumph and condemn Hong Kong to an early exit.