IND vs ENG: Fined! England slapped with heavy penalty after 1st T20I defeat to India Women

England have been fined 10% of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate during the first Women's T20 International against India, which the visitors won by a dominant 97-run margin at Trent Bridge. The penalty was issued by Helen Pack of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees after England were found to be two overs short of the required quota, even after accounting for time allowances. The offence falls under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which deals with minimum over-rate offences. “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 ICC stated in its release on Sunday, as quoted by PTI. England skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt accepted the charge and pleaded guilty, waiving the need for a formal hearing. The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Jacqueline Williams and James Middlebrook, with third umpire Sue Redfern and fourth umpire Anna Harris assisting in the decision. In the match, India were asked to bat first and put on a commanding 210 for 5, with stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana smashing her maiden T20I hundred — a blistering 112 off 62 balls that included 15 fours and 3 sixes. England’s chase faltered early and they were bowled out for just 113 in 14.5 overs, handing India a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The second T20I will be played on Tuesday at the County Ground in Bristol, where England will aim to level the series and address their over-rate concerns.