2017 ICC Champions Trophy: New Zealand Fined For Slow Over-Rate Against England
Nov 2, 2023 at 3:46 PM
As if their potential Champions Trophy-ending loss against England was not enough, New Zealand were fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during the crushing 87-run defeat against the hosts in their Group A game at Cardiff on Tuesday (June 6).
The Black Caps were ruled two overs short of the target when time allowances were considered by match referee Andy Pycroft. As a result, captain Kane Williamson has been docked 40 percent of his match fee while the other players were each fined 20 percent. Confirming the news in its press release, the ICC also stated that Williamson will be suspended for a game if the Kiwis repeat the same mistake in the upcoming matches of the tournament.
“If there is a second minor over-rate offence committed by New Zealand during the event with Williamson as captain, he will be suspended for one match,” the ICC said in a statement.
New Zealand’s Champions Trophy hopes hanging by a thread:
New Zealand will now have to win their remaining group game against Bangladesh and hope that England beat Australia if they are garnering hopes of making it to the last four. Chasing an imposing 310 on a Sophia Gardens pitch which was offering variable bounce, the 2015 World Cup finalist suffered a late collapse to be all out for 223 inside 45 overs.
At 158 for 2 in the 31st over, New Zealand were looking well on-course to overhaul the target but their innings fell apart once Williamson was dismissed by Mark Wood for 84. The Black Caps never recovered from that setback and kept on losing wickets at regular intervals.
New Zealand’s final group game against Bangladesh is on Friday (June 9).