Team India has received a hefty fine of 80 percent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against New Zealand in the first ODI at the Seddon Park in Hamilton on Wednesday. Chris Broad of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after Virat Kohli and his men fell short of four overs of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

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 percent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. 

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On-field umpires Shaun Haig and Langton Rusere, third umpire Bruce Oxenford and fourth umpire Chris Brown leveled the charges. This is the third successive international match on the tour that men in blue have received the fine for not completing the overs in the allotted time. India was fined in the fourth and fifth T20I as well.

In its press release, ICC said, “Kohli pleaded guilty to the offense and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.”

As far as the match is concerned, Ross Taylor’s 21st ODI ton was good enough for the hosts to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Despite posting a mammoth total of 347 runs, the Indian team lost the game by four wickets. Henry Nicholls and Tom Latham also scored half-centuries and especially, the latter’s innings made the chase look easier. Until Latham arrived at the crease, India was well in control of the game.

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For India, Shreyas Iyer scored his maiden international century batting at four. Apart from him, Kohli and KL Rahul also scored the fifties even as the latter looked like settling into his role in the middle-order. Rahul remained unbeaten on 88 off just 64 deliveries with three fours and six sixes to his name.