According to the latest reports, West Indies has been fined by the ICC for slow over-rate in the opening game of the 5-match T20I series against India. Skipper Nicholas Pooran has pleaded guilty and accepted the proposed sanction, eliminating the need for a formal hearing as West Indies were one over short within the allotted time. West Indies suffered a huge loss by 68 runs against India in the T20I series opener.
India put on a dominant performance as Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik contributed mainly with the bat while the bowlers produced a brilliant team effort. However, now the Caribbean outfit has been handed another blow. The Windies received a final of 20% of their match fee for slow over-rate in the first game. Richie Richardson of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the punishment as West Indies were one over short in the allotted time.
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The official release from ICC read: “In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offenses, players are fined 20 per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time”.
The Windies skipper, Nicholas Pooran won the toss and opted to bowl first, hoping to exploit the moisture in the pitch. Rohit Sharma surprisingly opened the innings with Suryakumar Yadav, as the Mumbai duo added 44 runs under 5 overs before the latter was dismissed.
Rohit scored his 27th T20I half-century as he made 64 runs in 44 balls to keep the innings going from his end. After Rohit’s dismissal, Ravindra Jadeja (16) and R Ashwin (13*) played supporting roles with Dinesh Karthik, who came out all guns blazing and smashed 41* in 19 balls to help the team finish well at 190/6 in their 20 overs.
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West Indies chase began on a positive note as Kyle Mayers and Shamarh Brooks added 22 runs in 1.2 overs before left-arm fast bowler, Arshdeep Singh dismissed the former with a short ball. Thereafter, the wickets kept falling at regular intervals for West Indies, as the Indian bowlers put up a professional performance courtesy of their three spinners R Ashwin (2/22), Ravi Bishnoi (2/26), and Ravindra Jadeja (1/26). West Indies eventually ended at 122/8 as India won by 68 runs.
