Top-order batsmen need to erect solid platform: Williams

Zimbabwe's middle-order batsman, Sean Williams, has asked other batsmen in the line-up to convert starts into a big score. He also said that Zimbabwe should have played better against South Africa, as the opposition rested their main bowlers for the series.

In fact, Williams, has been in fine form in the ODI series against South Africa. South Africa have already won the three-match series having tasted victory in the first two games.

"It's the second game I came into bat at the 12th over. The guys are a little bit loose upfront," Williams was quoted as saying by cricket365.com.

He continued by saying, "It is a little bit upsetting because we played against Pakistan, who to me have got a really serious bowling attack, and we batted really well against them. Those guys are serious bowlers."

South Africa, rested their key bowlers for the series. Williams said that their batsmen should have played better against the send-string attack.

He said, "Now, against the South Africans, no disrespect to them but the Pakistan attack are really good and on a wicket like this, I feel chasing 250 against the South Africans is a game that we can say we clearly lost ourselves.

"It can't be training or anything because the guys are training really hard at the moment. I don't know whether its application or value of wickets. I'm not sure what's going on."

Williams summed up by saying, "Maybe the guys just need to bat more for time rather than trying to score too many runs upfront. Taking pace out of the wicket is more for our advantage to take it away from the South African batsman, because that's what they want. They want the pace coming on. And we don't want to be bombarded with bouncers and short, quick stuff."