South Africa has suffered a loss of as many as six points on the World Test Championship points table and fined 60 percent of their match fee on Monday for a slow over-rate during their 191-run fourth Test defeat by England. The Proteas lost the four-match Test series by 3-1 margin. 

In a statement, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said it has punished South Africa after match referee Andy Pycroft found they were three overs short of the required rate during the Test, which gave England a 3-1 series win. South Africa and England preferred to continue with the all-seam bowling attacks at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, with no spin bowlers to speed up their over rates.

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The Proteas were found in the breach of the ICC’s Article 2.22 for the code of conduct, players are fined 20% of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the time allocated to them, and in accordance with Article 16.11.2 of the WTC’s playing conditions, a team is penalized two points for every over they are short.

Faf du Plessis, South Africa’s captain, pleaded guilty to the offense and accepted the proposed sanction, meaning there was no need for a formal hearing following the leveling of the charge by the match officials.

Currently, South Africa is standing at the seventh position in the nine-team table after one win and six losses. They gained 30 points for their win in the first Test against England but their total will now be reduced to 24 after becoming the first team in the tournament to have points deducted.

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India is leading the charts 360 points from seven wins in seven matches followed by Australia at 296 points as they won 7 out of teh 10 games they have played.