Sri Lanka Fined for Slow Over-Rate in the 1st ODI against New Zealand

The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team players have been fined 10% of their match fees, while the captain, Lasith Malinga has been slapped a 20% fine for the slow over-rate during the first ODI against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui, ICC confirmed. Meanwhile, New Zealand won the high-octane clash by 45 runs on Thursday.

Sri Lanka suffers early jitters in 2019

We are just three days in 2019, and the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team has been at the receiving end. As they lost the first game of the three-match ODI series, the visitors began the New Year on a sad note. Moreover, the fine imposed on the players would only derail the team’s confidence heading into the next game, which starts on January 5th at the Bay Oval itself.

Much to their disappointment, Sri Lanka was deemed to be one over short of their target, considering the time allowances for wickets and stoppages taken. The ICC released the statement,

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“As such, Malinga has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee, while his players have received 10 per cent fines. If Sri Lanka commit another minor over-rate breach in an ODI within 12 months of this offence with Malinga as captain, it will be deemed a second offence by Malinga and he will face a suspension,”

However, the Sri Lanka captain, Lasith Malinga, pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the sanctions. Meanwhile, if in 12 months, Sri Lanka National Cricket Team suffers another blow in the name of slow over-rate, and Malinga happens to be their captain then, he would get suspended for a match.

New Zealand take an early lead in the ODI series

Courtesy a brilliant 138 from Martin Guptill, and twin fifties from Williamson and Taylor, New Zealand posted a daunting total of 371 for seven in 50 overs. In reply, Sri Lanka started well, but they lost wickets in cluster later in the innings. Though Kusal Perera scored a hundred, the visitors fell short of 45 runs at the Bay Oval.