Pressure on Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe cricket chief Wilfred Mukondiwa insists that his side will be under pressure when they square up to Scotland today.

The sides clash at Raeburn Place in the first of two One Day Internationals, with both teams needing to prove a point.

Mukondiwa’s men are using the double header as a springboard for their series against Sri Lanka – and they are desperate to bounce back in the wake of a heavy defeat by Afghanistan.

The hosts are also keen to atone for their loss to Namibia in Tuesday’s second World Cricket League clash.

Zimbabwe will go into the match in Edinburgh as clear favourites, but the team’s managing director Mukondiwa insisted the Scots are sure to provide a stern challenge.

He said: “The matches will give the boys some muchneeded game time and experience of unfamiliar conditions.

“They will also go a long way in preparing our team for the tougher series away to Sri Lanka.”

Zimbabwe, under interim captain Graeme Cremer, have recentlyunearthedsomefresh talent, but the results haven’t gone their way in the past two years.

The sides will meet again on Saturday at the same venue.