The International Cricket Council announced on Wednesday that Sri Lanka have been fined 15 percent of their match fee for keeping a slow over-rate during their first ODI against England in Chester-le -Street. After accounting for time allowances during the match at the Riverside Ground on Tuesday, Sri Lanka were determined to be three overs short of the required run rate. Jeff Crowe, a member of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, imposed the sanction in accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which addresses violations related to minimum over-rate requirements.
Jeff Crowe concluded that a violation had taken place and subsequently charged the Sri Lanka team. Captain Kusal Mendis admitted the offence and accepted the suggested penalty without dispute, thereby resolving the issue without the need for a formal disciplinary hearing.
The four match officials who lodged the charge were on-field umpires Wayne Knights and Graham Lloyd, third umpire Adrian Holdstock, and fourth umpire James Middlebrook. Their joint role in reporting the breach aligns with the standard procedure outlined in the ICC Code of Conduct for identifying a slow over-rate violation during an international match.
The time allowances included in the calculation account for specific stoppages beyond a team’s control, including injuries, weather disruptions, and other delays caused by factors outside the fielding side’s influence. The remaining shortfall, after those deductions, is what determines how many overs are subject to penalty. Even after those concessions, Sri Lanka remained three overs behind, confirming the breach and leaving no room to lessen the penalty.
England, who batted first, scored 265, with Harry Brook scoring the team’s highest 67 and Will Jacks finishing on an unbeaten 46. Jacks then delivered a crucial spell with the ball, taking five wickets for 22 runs as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 176. Janith Wellalage scored 45, and Mendis added 42 for Sri Lanka, while debutant Sachindu Colombage and Asitha Fernando each claimed three wickets for the visitors. The second One Day International in the series is scheduled for September 24.
