West Indies fined for slow over-rate in first ODI against Sri Lanka

West Indies have been fined 40 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against Sri Lanka in the first ODI in Colombo yesterday.

Javagal Srinath of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanctions after Kieron Pollard’s side was 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 20 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

Pollard accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

On-field umpires Paul Wilson and Ruchira Palliyaguruge, third umpire Marais Erasmus and fourth official Lyndon Hannibal levelled the charges.

West Indies fight, but go down

Apart from the sanctions imposed, the Caribbean team didn’t have the greatest of times on the field as well. After losing the toss and being put in to bat first, the visitors managed a decent score of 289 for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 50 overs. Shai Hope churned out 115 runs and got the apt support from Darren Bravo (39) and Roston Chase (41) in the middle order.

Some flurry of boundaries from Keemo Paul (32) and Hayden Walsh Jr (20) propelled the Caribbean team’s score in the death overs. While defending the score, Lankan openers Avishka Fernando (50) and Dimuth Karunaratne (52) exerted pressure on them.

The duo put on an opening wicket stand of 111 runs in 17.6 overs. Even Kusal Perera at number three churned out a valuable 42 off 50 balls. However, West Indies kept chipping away with wickets at pretty regular intervals. The Lankan middle order were never allowed to get away.

When the eighth Lankan wicket went down, the hosts still needed 28 runs at around a run-a-ball. But Wanindu Hasaranga scored 42 off 39 and denied West Indies a victory at the SSC in Colombo. The second ODI is set to be played on Wednesday, February 26 in Hambantota.