New Delhi, September 8 (HS): South Africa have been fined five percent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate during the third and final ODI against England at Southampton on Sunday.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Monday that Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma accepted the sanction, thereby avoiding a formal hearing. On-field umpires Nitin Menon and Russell Warren, along with third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Mike Burns, leveled the charge. Match referee Javagal Srinath imposed the penalty after South Africa were found to be one over short of the target within the stipulated time.

According to ICC’s Code of Conduct under Article 2.22, players are fined five percent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

The match itself witnessed a one-sided contest. England, batting first, piled up a colossal 414 for 5. In reply, the Proteas collapsed to just 72 runs in 20.5 overs, suffering a crushing 342-run defeat — one of their heaviest losses in ODI history. Despite the setback, South Africa took the three-match series 2-1, having won the opening two games.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar