New Zealand fined for slow over-rate in Auckland ODI

New Zealand have been fined 60 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against India in the second One Day International in Auckland on Saturday.

Chris Broad of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after Tom Latham’s side was ruled to be three 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.

Latham pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

On-field umpires Chris Brown and Bruce Oxenford, third umpire Langton Rusere and fourth umpire John Dempsey leveled the charges.

Black Caps make a comeback

The Kiwis had a rather disappointing outing in the T20Is against India, having lost the five-match series 5-0. In three of those games, the hosts had the chance of flooring India, but every other time, the Men in Blue kept coming out of jail. To add insult to injury, their skipper Kane Williamson also developed a shoulder injury and missed the last couple of T20Is.

However, in the ODI series, New Zealand have been able to turn their fortunes around. In the first game at the Seddon Park in Hamilton, the home team cantered home by six wickets after being asked to chase at a rate, starting almost at seven. Ross Taylor notched a century to help the Kiwis’ cause. He got the apt support from Tom Latham, who turned up with a breezy half-century as well.

In the second ODI at the Eden Park in Auckland, the Black Caps won by 22 runs and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor scored in the 70s to help the hosts score 273 in their 50 overs. While defending the modest score, New Zealand picked up regular wickets and romped home despite some fight from India’s lower order.