By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) slapped South Africa with a fine for maintaining a slow over-rate during the third ODI against England at the Rose Bowl.
Chasing 415 to complete a clean-sweep of the three-match series, South Africa were bowled out for just 72 in 20.5 ignominious overs in Southampton.
It was the biggest winning margin in the history of the ODI format when batting first, surpassing India’s 317-run victory against Sri Lanka in 2023.
The Proteas narrowly avoided falling short of their lowest ODI total of 69 against Australia in 1993.
England’s previous biggest margin of victory was a 242-run success against Australia at Trent Bridge in 2018.
The ICC released a statement to announce that South Africa has been fined five per cent of their match fee.
Former India speedster and a member of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, Javagal Srinath, imposed the sanction after South Africa were ruled to be one over short 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 offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.
The Proteas had won the first two games of the three-match series, but Proteas captain Temba Bavuma pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction.
Although South Africa’s astonishing collapse will take a while for Bavuma to process, he took heart from their overall form.
The ODI series win against England came after victory against Australia in the same format recently.
“We are moving forward, we are taking positive strides forward, the team is shaping up nicely,” Bavuma said. “I think looking at the way we were against Australia, we are starting to answer those question marks about our team.”
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