ICC World T20: Zimbabwe beat Scotland by 11 runs

Wellington Masakadza takes four wickets

Zimbabwe's Wellington Masakadza celebrates the wicket of Scotland's Safyaan Sharif during the ICC World Twenty20 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Thursday. (PTI)

NAGPUR: Zimbabwe beat Scotland by 11 runs after a brisk half-century by Sean Williams and a four-wicket haul by left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza in the first round Group B match at the World Twenty20 on Thursday.

Williams hit 53 off 36 balls as Zimbabwe made 147-7. Masakadza then took 4-28 as Scotland was bowled out for 136 in 19.4 overs, Richie Berrington top scoring with 36.

It means Scotland exit the tournament early as in its two previous appearances in 2007 and 2009, the team still winless after three World Twenty20 tournaments.

Scotland lost its opening game against Afghanistan and meets Hong Kong in its final match on Saturday.

Zimbabwe, which defeated Hong Kong by 14 runs in its first game, stayed on course for the next stage with their second straight victory and will meet Afghanistan in the last group match on Saturday.

"We have been playing well and the guys are gelling well," said Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza. "The boys are believing a bit more, and that's paying off."

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Zimbabwe ran into trouble at 67-4 in the 11th over before Williams rebuilt the innings, hitting six boundaries.

Hamilton Masakadza was run out for the second successive time in a mid-pitch collision with opening batsman Vusi Sibanda, who resumed his innings after getting a bandage on his injured chin.

Scotland hit back late in the Zimbabwe innings when Williams holed out at square leg in the 17th over off Safyaan Sharif's full toss with the score on 128 as Zimbabwe could add only 19 off the last 18 deliveries.

However, Wellington Masakadza and Tendai Chatara took two wickets each inside the first four overs to reduce Scotland to 20-4 before Berrington added 51 runs with captain Preston Mommsen (31) to narrow the margin of defeat.

"It was a difficult start," Mommsen said. "We got to a better position to have a crack and it would have been different had we got that partnership going further."

BRIEF SCORES (FULL SCORECARD)

Zimbabwe: 147 for 7 (Sean Williams 53; Mark Watt 2-21, Alasdair Evans 2-30).

Scotland: 136 all out (Richie Berrington 36, Preston Mommsen 31; Wellington Masakadza 4-28).

Zimbabwe beat Scotland by 11 runs.