In Short
- Pratika Rawal was fined based on two incidents
- England were fined for slow over-rate
- India went on to beat England by a four-wicket margin
The ICC handed out fines to India’s Pratika Rawal and the England women’s cricket team following the opening ODI at Southampton on Thursday, July 18. Rawal was fined 10 per cent of her match fee and received a demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct. The charges relate to two on-field incidents during the match.
While batting in the 18th over, Rawal made physical contact with England bowler Lauren Filer while taking a single. Later in the innings, after being dismissed, she was involved in another altercation, this time bumping into Sophie Ecclestone. The ICC deemed both incidents to be in breach of the spirit of the game. Rawal accepted the charges, which meant no formal hearing was required. The demerit point will stay on her record for a 24-month period.
Meanwhile, the England team was penalised for a slow over-rate. The match officials determined that England fell one over short of the required rate, even after allowances were taken into account. As per Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, a team is fined five per cent of their match fee for every over they fail to bowl in the allotted time. England’s players were collectively docked five per cent of their fees.
Despite the disciplinary setbacks, the match itself was a highly competitive encounter. England posted a challenging total of 259, thanks to half-centuries from Sophie Dunkley and Alice Davidson-Richards. The duo provided the foundation for a competitive score, setting the stage for what looked like a close contest.
However, the Indian batting unit responded with maturity and composure. Deepti Sharma led the chargein the middle order, scoring an unbeaten 62 to guide India home. Jemimah Rodrigues chipped in with a valuable 48 as India reached the target with 10 balls and four wickets to spare. The successful chase gave India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
The second ODI is scheduled to be played at Lord’s on Saturday, July 19. India willnow look to capitalise on their momentum and seal the series, while England will aim to bounce back and level things. Both teams will be hoping for a cleaner contest after the first game saw tempers flare and fines handed out.
