AUS vs ENG 2018: Steve Smith And Australia Fined After Third ODI

Australia skipper Steve Smith and his teammates have been fined after the International Cricket Council found the hosts guilty of committing an over-rate offence in the third One-Day International against England on Sunday (January 22) in Sydney. The charge was led by match referee Ranjan Madugalle after he found out that the reigning world champions had not completed their overs in the allotted time.

Smith was fined 40 percent of his match fee and the other 10 Australia players 20 per cent of their match fees after they were ruled to be two overs short when time allowances were taken into consideration, the ICC said in its statement.

According to ICC’s code of conduct, the players are fined 10 per cent of their match fee for every over they fail to bowl in the permitted time, with the captain stung twice that amount. Smith pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the sanction, and as a result, there was no need for a formal hearing.

If Australia commits the over-rate offence again within the next 12 months under Smith’s captaincy, the Australia skipper could face a suspension.

Coming to the match, England defeated the beleaguered hosts by 16 runs to win the third game and take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Sent in to bat first, England were off to a shaky start and were reeling at 107 for 4 before a 65-run stand between skipper Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler steadied the ship.

Buttler and Chris Woakes then shared an unbeaten stand of 113 runs to help England recover from the poor start and post 302 for 6 in the allotted 50 overs. Buttler completed his century on the last of the innings off 83 balls while Woakes remained not out on 53 which came off just 36 balls.

In reply, Australia could only manage 286 for 6 despite the fifties from Aaron Finch, Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis.

Follow the ODI series here: Australia Vs England, 2018