ZIM CRICKET: Prosper Utseya wants more

31 Aug, 2014 - 06:08 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

Brighton Zhawi – Sports Reporter

HISTORY-making off-spinner Prosper Utseya is eyeing a record stretching 50th wicket at Harare Sports Club when Zimbabwe meet Australia again in a triangular One Day International match today.

The bowler, who became the second Zimbabwean to claim a hat-trick in the defeat to South Africa on Friday, is already the most successful bowler at Harare Sports Club with 49 victims.

“This is my home ground and to be the leading wicket taker is something that I take pride in,” Utseya, who became the first Zimbabwean to take a hat-trick after Eddo Brandes in 1997, told The Sunday Mail.

He is second to country legend Heath Streak on Zimbabwe’s highest ODI wicket takers with 128 wickets.

The retired Streak leads the all-time Zimbabwean bowlers’ chart with 237 wickets claimed over a 12-year career.

“To be honest when you cross the rope you always want to do the best for your country, you want to take as many wickets as you can, and I hope I will be able to achieve (50 Harare Sports Club wickets) in this series,” said Utseya, who also grabbed his first five during the Proteas match.

Friday’s record-breaking feat came a few days after Utseya’s quicker ball action was questioned in the third ODI against South Africa at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

Did that come as an inspiration for Zimbabwe’s sixth most capped player who waited for 158 ODIs to grab his first five-wicket haul?

“To be honest it was quite disturbing and disheartening, it wasn’t easy to deal with mentally. I have been speaking with friends, close relatives, my fans and I have been getting support which was very encouraging.

“I am quite confident that if I go through the process I will come out clean, because that’s the way I have bowled since I made my debut,’’ said Utseya, who made his international debut at the age of 19 in 2004 against Sri Lanka in Bulawayo.

Utseya, who is set get his action tested by September 19 in Wales, is pleased long hours in the nets have proved fruitful.

“It’s encouraging when you put in hours in practice and you get the rewards, it means I am doing the right thing, the onus is on me to keep it up,” he said.

The Takashinga Cricket Academy graduate has taken 19 wickets in 18 meetings with South Africa, his third best haul against one side.

His best is against Bangladesh (32 from 42 matches) followed by Kenya (23 in 16 matches).

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