New Zealand vs India: Virat Kohli & Co. fined 80% of match fee for slow over-rate in Hamilton

India have been fined 80 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against New Zealand in the first One Day International in Hamilton on Wednesday. Chris Broad of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after Virat Kohli’s side was ruled to be four overs 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 20 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. Kohli pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

On-field umpires Shaun Haig and Langton Rusere, third umpire Bruce Oxenford and fourth umpire Chris Brown levelled the charges. This is the third successive game on the tour that the visitors have been fined for not completing the overs in the allotted time. India were fined in the fourth and fifth T20I as well.

Taylor special trumps India in Hamilton

As far as the match is concerned, Ross Taylor’s 21st ODI century proved enough for the hosts to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Despite posting a mammoth total of 347 runs, the Men in Blue lost the game by four wickets. Henry Nicholls and Tom Latham also scored half-centuries and especially, the latter’s innings gave momentum to the chase. Until Latham arrived at the crease, India were well in control of the game.

For India, Shreyas Iyer scored his maiden international ton batting at four. Apart from him, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul also went past the 50-run mark even as the latter looked like settling into his role in the middle-order. Rahul remained unbeaten on 88 off just 64 deliveries with three fours and six sixes to his name. However, the tourists didn’t bowl and field well on a small ground in Hamilton which led to them succumbing to the defeat.