World T20: Battle of the associates hots up as Zimbabwe put 147 on board for Scotland

Old time cricket fans will remember Zimbabwe as a team that could beat any other team in world cricket in their day as they remained a test playing side through the 90's. Thoughts can't help but gravitate towards a Zimbabwean team that had the likes of Heath Streak, Andy Flower, Pommie Mbangwa, and Grant Flower.

And as the current Zimbabwean team takes on Scotland in the ICC World T20 in Nagpur today (albeit as an associate nation stripped of their test match status), they are aiming to slowly climb the ladder of world cricket once again, one where it was routine for Zimbabwe to be perched regularly at the higher rungs.

And the team, coming fresh off their win against Hong Kong by 14 runs, posted 147 on the board after winning the toss and electing to bat first.

The star of the show for Zimbabweans was No. 4 batsman Sean Williams, who made 53 off 36 balls. He was the only batsman in the innings to register a score of above 50 as openers Vusimusi Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza were out on scores of 4 and 12, respectively. And on the cusp of the 17^th over, even Williams perished after trying to hit a big shot on the leg side but holding out to Evans off the bowling of Sharif.

Towards the end of the innings, Elton Chigumbura and Wellington Masakadza tried hard to dispatch the Scottish bowlers to all corners of the ground, but some tight bowling courtesy of Sharif meant that they were unable to do so.

It is almost becoming routine in the ongoing qualifiers for the team batting first to get a score of around 150. More often than not, this total is defended. Can Scotland chase down Zimbabwe's score to get their first win in the tournament? The second innings awaits.