New Zealand Women's team fined for slow over-rate in T20I against Australia

Players penalized 5% of match fees for all over they failed to bowl within allotted time, according to ICC's code

New Zealand Women’s cricket team has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during the first T20I against Australia in Mackay.

The team was found to be one over short of the required rate after taking time allowances into account.

As a result, the players were penalized five percent of their match fees for every over they failed to bowl within the allotted time, according to Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct.

This rule applies to minimum over-rate offences.

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine accepted the penalty, and since she pleaded guilty, a formal hearing was not required.

The charge was laid by on-field umpires Andrew Crozier and Troy Penman, along with third umpire Ben Treloar and fourth umpire Daryl Brigham. The sanction was imposed by Match Referee David Gilbert.

Australia won the first T20I by five wickets and followed it up with a 29-run victory in the second match at the same venue.

The two teams are set to face off again in the third T20I on Tuesday, September 24, before heading to the UAE for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, which starts on October 3.

In the first game, New Zealand, who batted first, posted a total of 143 runs and also lost 7 wickets. Even with the ball, they failed to apply pressure on the opposition as they went on to lose the first game of the series by 5 wickets as Australia chased the target in just 18.4 overs.

In the second T20I, New Zealand came up with a great performance with the ball. They were right on the money as they bundled out Australia for 142 runs.

Amelia Kerr was the pick of the bowlers as she bagged a four-wicket haul and returned with the figures of 4/20.

But they failed to get going with the bat as they lost wickets at regular intervals Suzie Bates (34) was the top run-maker for her team and got no support from the top and middle order.

Maddy Green (22) fought hard in the end but couldn't carry on as Australia restricted the opposition to 113 runs to win the game by 29 runs.