Ireland fined 10 per cent of match fee for maintaining slow over-rate against Australia in 2nd ODI

Ireland have been fined 10 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against Australia in the second match of their ICC Women’s Championship series in Dublin on Tuesday.

Philip Thompson of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after Ireland were ruled to be two 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 five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

Captain Laura Delany pled guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

On-field umpires Jareth McCready and Paul Reynolds, and third umpire Mark Hawthorne levelled the charge.

Australia Women's tour of Ireland saw the first game being washed out without a ball bowled. The second ODI saw the visitors defeating the hosts by a margin of 153 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Speaking of how the game panned out, Australia scored 321/7 in their alloted 50 overs while batting first.

Ellyse Perry top-scored for the visiting side with her 99-ball 91, while Ashleigh Gardner played a brilliant knock of 65(39), hitting seven fours and three sixes at a thunderous strike rate of 166.67. Georgina Dempsey was the top wicket-taker for Ireland as she finished with 4/54 in 10 overs.

Chasing the target, top-order batters Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter played fine knocks of 37 and 50, but their wickets put an end to Ireland's innings. Skipper Laura Delany scored 18 runs, while all other eight batters failed to score in double-digits. Combined efforts from the Australian bowlers saw the hosts closing their innings with mere 168 runs on board in 38.2 overs as the visitors clinched a win.