Sri Lanka Fined For Slow Over-Rate In Third ODI Against Zimbabwe
Jul 6, 2017 at 9:17 PM
Sri Lanka has been fined for a slow over-rate against Zimbabwe during the third One-Day International in Hambantota on Thursday (July 6).
The charge was laid by on-field umpires Ian Gould and Ranmore Martinesz, third umpire Nigel Llong and fourth official Ruchira Palliyaguruge. Consequently, match referee Chris Board imposed the fine on the hosts after finding out that Angelo Mathews & Co. were one over short of their target when time allowances were taken into consideration. As per the rules, Mathews was fined 20 percent of his match fees while the other players were docked 10 percent of the same.
Mathews is now in danger of getting suspended if his side repeats the same mistake under his captaincy in the next 12 months. Recently, Sri Lanka’s stand-in skipper Upul Tharanga was suspended for a couple of games after the island nation was found guilty of slow over-rate in the group game against South Africa in the Champions Trophy.
“In accordance with Article 2.5.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount,” the statement from ICC read.
As such, Mathews has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee, while his players have received 10 per cent fines. If Sri Lanka commits another minor over-rate breach in an ODI within 12 months of this offence with Mathews as captain, it will be deemed a second offence by Mathews and he will face a suspension,” it added.
Meanwhile, there will be no formal hearing as Mathews pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the sanction.
Sri Lanka takes a 2-1 lead in the series:
The home side took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series with an eight-wicket win in the third one-dayer. Batting first, Zimbabwe on the back of Hamilton Masakadza’s century posted a challenging 310 for 8 in the allotted 50 overs.
However, Sri Lanka, led by centuries by openers Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka, chased down the target with utmost ease, losing just a couple of wickets to cross the target in 47.2 overs.