Matthew Cross and Chris McBride make a watchful start against the spin of Wellington Masakadza.

Two singles from it.

The first bowling change of the game sees Tendai Chatara, who dropped Chris McBride not long ago, come into the attack.

Scotland continue to tick along nicely - four from the over.

We'll see spin from the over end. Wellington Masakadza is warming up...

That's the powerplay done, and Scotland will be the happier of the sides, having navigated it without losing either one of their openers.

They will want to make this budding partnership a big one.

Image source, Getty Images

There was a definite noise there, but ultra-edge shows no bat, and the original decision is upheld.

I wonder what that noise could have been then - did the ball shave the stumps on its way through to Joylord Gumbie?

Has Chris McBride gone this time though?

There's a half-hearted appeal for caught behind, and captain Craig Ervine sends it upstairs...

The only run from that over came following the dropped catch.

Richard Ngarava has bowled well for no reward.

McBride dropped on 15published at 8.1 overs

8.1 overs

Scotland 33-0 v Zimbabwe

Dear, oh dear. Chris McBride gets a life.

Richard Ngarava bangs one in, and McBride can only top-edge the bouncer down the throat of Tendai Chatara at long-leg.

It's a simple catch, for an international cricketer anyway, but it goes to ground, and Zimbabwe are still searching for that elusive first wicket.

Chris McBride starts the eighth over with a powerful cut shot that flies past backward point's left hand for four.

There's then a huge appeal for lbw, but umpire Asif Yaqoob is unmoved, and Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine rightly decides against a review - it was high and sliding down.

Eight from the over - a productive one for Scotland.

Another over ticks by without incident.

Any early swing that was on offer appears to have disappeared, and that will encourage the Scottish pair.

Shot of the morning so far from Matthew Cross, as he whips Blessing Muzarabani through midwicket for four.

Six from the over in total.

Richard Ngarava continues to beat the outside edge, but Scotland survive - that's the main thing in these testing early stages.

Four runs come from Blessing Muzarabani's second over.

Steady away.

The left-arm angle from Richard Ngarava is causing Matthew Cross some issues here - the Scotland wicket-keeper is understandably worried about the ball coming back into him, but Ngarava goes across him, and beats the outside edge with the first three balls of the over.

Cross does well to get down the other end, before Chris McBride tucks another single off his hip.

Blessing Muzarabani opens up from the other end, and thinks he has a wicket with his very first ball.

Matthew Cross shoulders arms, and must have thought he was done for when he saw the ball seam back dramatically, but it shaved the top of middle stump on its way through to the keeper.

A wonderful straight drive from Chris McBride finishes the over, and Scotland take five from it.

Richard Ngarava's first over is a testing one, but it's safely dealt with by the Scotland openers.

Chris McBride gets off the mark with a quick single into the leg-side, before Matthew Cross slices a drive just wide of point and picks up three.

Hosts Zimbabwe had been enjoying a flawless qualifying campaign, sweeping aside all-comers in front of passionate home crowds, but their progress hit a snag last time out, as they were thrashed by Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's nine wicket victory, with 101 balls to spare, also saw Zimbabwe's net run-rate take a significant hit.

Another defeat would see Scotland leapfrog Zimbabwe in the standings, whereas a bounce-back win for the hosts would guarantee their place at the World Cup.

Clear? Good, because we're about to get under way... Chris McBride and Matthew Cross are marching to the middle, ready to start Scotland's innings.

Scotland are unchanged from their stunning win over the West Indies on Saturday - no surprises there.

Scotland: Christopher McBride, Matthew Cross, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Richie Berrington, Tomas Mackintosh, Michael Leask, Chris Greaves, Mark Watt, Safyaan Sharif, Chris Sole.

Zimbabwe: Joylord Gumbie, Craig Ervine, Innocent Kaia, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Wessly Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Tendai Chatara, Blessing Muzarabani.

Good morning cricket fans!

It's a huge game for Scotland out in Bulawayo, as they face Zimbabwe knowing that only a win will do in their quest to reach the World Cup proper later this year.

Skipper Richie Berrington has lost the toss, and the Scots have been put into bat on a used wicket.

Team news to follow...