Cricket Buzz: Zimbabwe's Utseya reported for suspect action

Zimbabwe all-rounder Prosper Utseya has been reported for an illegal bowling action, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Friday.

Match officials had concerns about the off-spinner's action during Zimbabwe's seven-wicket loss in the third and final one-day international against South Africa in Bulawayo on Thursday, the ICC said in a statement.

The match officials' report, which was handed over to Zimbabwe team manager Stanley Chioza on Thursday after the match, cited concerns regarding Utseya's arm ball and fast delivery.

The report concluded that the bowler's action needed to be tested.

Utseya's bowling action will now be scrutinised further under the ICC process relating to suspected illegal bowling actions reported in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.

He is required to undergo testing within 21 days, and, during this period, Utseya is permitted to continue bowling in international cricket until the results of the testing are known.

- NEXT: England women humble India

Half centuries from skipper Charlotte Edwards and Heather Knight helped England women outplay their Indian counterparts by 42 runs via Duckworth-Lewis method in the first rain-hit one-dayer in Scarborough.

Chasing a revised target of 184 in 42 overs, England were 153 for three in 30.1 overs when rain intervened for one final time and the hosts were found to be well above their re-revised target of 112 in 30.1 overs to earn a vital 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The England openers laid a solid foundation with a 110-run partnership in 121 balls before Charlotte (57) was cleaned up by left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht (1-20).

Heather (53) fell soon after as off-spinner Shivanand Rajeshwari (1-17) did the trick for the visitors.

Sarah Taylor (21 not out) and Lauren Winfield (15) then stuck it out for 21 quick runs as England galloped towards victory.

Lauren was scalped by pace spearhead Jhulan Goswami (1-21) but Sarah and Lydia Greenway (1 not out) made sure that the hosts had no other hiccups even as rain forced the match officials to call the curtains.

Earlier put into bat, India rode opener Smriti Mandhana's 74 to post 193 for eight in 47 overs after three overs were reduced from the stipulated 50 post a rain interruption in the 18th over of the innings.

Skipper Mithali Raj contributed with 34 runs as Vellaswamy Vanitha (27) and debutant Shikha Pandey (21 not out) were the other batswoman to get into double figures.

Woman of the Match Heather managed to pick 3 wickets with her medium pace while Anya Shrubsole (2-47) and Jenny Gunn (1-36) also chipped in with crucial breakthrough's.

The two teams next meet on Saturday for the second ODI at the same venue.

Brief Scores:

India193/8 in 47 overs (Smriti Mandhana 74, Mithali Raj 34; Heather Knight 3-28)

England 153/3 in 30.1 - target 112 in 30.1 overs (Charlotte Edwards 57, Heather Knight 53; Ekta Bisht 1-20, Shivanand Rajeshwari 1-17, Jhulan Goswami 1-21).

- NEXT: Ajmal misses first ODI

Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal will miss the first One-day international against Sri Lanka on August 23 as he is flying to Brisbane to undergo tests on his bowling action.

A senior official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Thursday that Ajmal might also miss the second of three One-dayers in Colombo on Aug. 27 if his tests take time in Brisbane.

Ajmal’s bowling action was reported by the umpires and match referee to the ICC after the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle earlier this month. He is still free to play.

"Right now he will be flying to Brisbane to an ICC accredited biomechanics lab on August 23 when the first ODI is to be played and his test is scheduled for the 24th," the official said.

"He will be accompanied by a doctor of our medical panel, Dr Sohail Saleem."

The PCB official said that around 30 deliveries from Galle had been mentioned in the report received by the board.

Ajmal, 36, has been Pakistan’s leading bowler in recent years with 178 wickets in 35 Tests and 182 one-day international and 85 Twenty20 wickets.

His action was also reported in 2009 but he was cleared after tests.