Utseya admits to pressure of captaincy

Prosper Utseya, the Zimbabwe captain, has admitted feeling the pressure of being a young, inexperienced captain at the World Cup.

"It's a big challenge, and a big ask for me as a young player because I'm still learning the game," said Utseya who will turn 22 just before the start of the Super 8's. "But I'm trying to get as much help as I can from the senior players, the coach, and the other captains as well."

Zimbabwe tied their opening match of the competition on March 15 with Ireland and need a victory over Pakistan in their final group match on March 21 if they are to keep alive their hopes of reaching the next stage.

"We were trying for a win to put us in a better position to reach the Super 8's, but I thought the guys fought well which was good, so we will have to get it in our next game," he said.

Though they lost against the West Indies, Zimbabwe's Sean Williams took the Man-of-the-Match award for his unbeaten 70 which helped his side reach a respectable 202 for 5 from their 50 overs.

"The pitch was very good, and the kind of pitch that once you got in, you stayed in, and you placed a value on your wicket," said Williams. "The West Indies bowlers hit some very good lines and lengths, and it was not easy, but they just gave me a little bit too much width every now and again, and I capitalised on it."

Williams concluded that if his side had been able to score a few more runs, the finish to the match might have been tighter. "We lost too many early wickets, and it was kind of tough on the batsmen coming lower down the order to have a go, and try to get a larger total," he said.

Along with Brendan Taylor who made 50, Williams added 83 for the fifth wicket and then another 60 with Elton Chigumbura to give Zimbabwe a late boost.