ICC clear Liam Plunkett after ball-tampering claims

Footage emerged on Saturday of Plunkett running his fingers over the ball during the second innings of the clash at the Ageas Bowl, images which the seamer reportedly passed on to match referee Richie Richardson

The ICC have cleared Liam Plunkett of accusations he tried to alter the condition of the ball during the second one-day international against Pakistan.

Footage emerged on Saturday of Plunkett running his fingers over the ball during the second innings of the clash at the Ageas Bowl, images which the seamer reported to match referee Richie Richardson.

The game's governing body confirmed on Sunday, however, that Plunkett had no case to answer.

A statement read: "The ICC has confirmed that the match officials are comfortable there was no attempt by Liam Plunkett to change the condition of the ball or any evidence of this on the over-by-over examinations of the ball throughout Saurday's ODI clash in Southampton."

England won the game by 12 runs, defending their total of 373 despite a superb century from Fakhar Zaman.

Earlier, Jos Buttler had made England's second-fastest ODI hundred of all time off 50 balls.