Latest update April 4th, 2025 6:13 AM
“Our strength is in our spinners”
– Says Zimbabwe Captain, Utseya
Prosper Utseya
By Edison Jefford
Trying hard to hold back his obvious delight mustered from his team’s two-run upset win against the West Indies in the initial One Day International, Zimbabwe’s Captain, Prosper Utseya believes his side’s strength is in spin-bowling.
That fact became evident at the Guyana National Stadium on Thursday when the Captain, who bowls off-spin, opted to open the bowling with left arm orthodox spinner, Ray Price in a deliberate tactic aimed at stymieing WI run chase.
The team’s concentration on spin was further emphasised when Gregory Lamb continued to work against WI Captain, Chris Gayle, who looked to be in good form.
Lamb managed to trap the dangerous opening batsman for 57 off 63 balls to break a threatening opening stand worth 98 runs with Adrian Barath.
So it was clear that Zimbabwe had a plan and when Kaieteur Sport asked Utseya, he said the team’s strength is in their spinners and added that they have done their homework and have figured that WI batsmen are suspect against spin.
“Our strength is in our spinners. I believe that if we put runs on the board and that if there is assistance in the wicket then I am sure our spinners will make use of it,” the Zimbabwe Captain said following his team’s triumph.
“We sit down and do our homework, but we try to focus on our strength and our strength is bowling spin so even if we are playing Sri Lanka, we will use our spinners because we believe that’s where our strength lies,” he continued.
Asked if his team has developed a psychological advantage over the West Indies from the Twenty20 win on Sunday and the first ODI win three days after, Utseya was reluctant but admitted that their work ethic has given them the edge.
“I would not say that, but with the way we’ve been working hard, I think that is what has been giving us a lot of confidence coming into this game. We take each game at a time. I am proud of the guys and it’s important we keep that flag flying high for our country and give them something to smile about,” Utseya stated.
The Zimbabwe skipper believes that it is important that they do not get too excited about their two victories because there are still four more games left. He said that he expects the WI team to regroup and go hard at them today.
At least the West Indies now have some insight into the Zimbabwean tactic and as Gayle indicated at the Post Match Press Conference on Thursday, there are likely to be changes to the team for the second of the five ODIs.
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