World Twnety20: Top order collapse prompts Scotland's early exit

Kyle Coetzer was one of four top order batsmen to fall cheaply against Zimbabwe, leaving Preston Mommsen's team with a mountain to climb in Nagpur. Picture: Ian Rutherford.

Afghanistan later booked a winner-takes-all showdown with Zimbabwe tomorrow for the right to play against the top-tier nations in the competition after a six-wicket victory over Hong Kong.

Having lost their opening match in Group B to Afghanistan, the Scots needed a first-ever victory in the World Twenty20 to remain in the competition.

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

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

Those who did make it in saw 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 medical attention 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.

Zimbabwe were toiling on 67-4 after 10 overs but Sean Williams, fired 53 off 36 balls as Zimbabwe reached 147-7.

Any hopes Scotland had of a first win in a limited-overs tournament, however, were extinguished when they lost George Munsey, Matthew Cross, Machan and Kyle Coetzer within the first 19 balls, to leave them reeling on 20-4.

Richie Berrington (36) and captain Preston Mommsen (31) put on 51, but despite Josh Davey’s quick-fire 24 off 13 balls, Scotland came up short.