Women's World Cup 2025: India fined for slow over-rate against Australia

India have been fined five per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against Australia in their ICC Women’s World Cup league match at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, October 12.

Michell Periera of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction as India were ruled to be one over short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur pled guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing. On-field umpires Sue Redfern and Nimali Perera, third umpire Kim Cotton and fourth umpire Jacquline Williams leveled the charge.

Speaking of the match, India lost a hard-fought, high-scoring encounter to Australia by three wickets, recording their second consecutive defeat in the tournament after losing to South Africa at the same venue by an identical margin on October 9. 

Inserted to bat, India notched up an imposing 330 on the board in 48.5 overs, riding on the back of half-centuries from openers Smriti Mandhana (80 off 66) and Pratika Rawal (75 off 96). There were small but useful contributions from Harleen Deol (38 off 42), Jemimah Rodirgues 33 off 21) and Richa Ghosh (32 off 22) as well. Annabel Sutherland was the wrecker-in-chief, scalping five wickets for just 40 runs while Sophie Molineux returned with figures of 3 for 75 in 10 overs.

Chasing a daunting target, Australia had skipper Alyssa Healy to thank as she roared back to form with a match-defining 142-run knock in merely 107 deliveries, including 21 fours and three sixes. Healy was well assisted by forties from Phoebe Litchfield (40 off 39), Ellyse Perry (47 off 52) and Ashleigh Gardner (45 off 46) as Australia gunned down the record target with three wickets and an over to spare.