Sri Lanka v India, 1st ODI, Hambantota

Dhoni and India fined for slow over-rate

ESPNcricinfo staff

July 22, 2012

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	Over-rate woes have returned to haunt MS Dhoni © Associated Press Enlarge
Related Links Players/Officials: MS Dhoni Matches: Sri Lanka v India at Hambantota Series/Tournaments: India tour of Sri Lanka Teams: India | Sri Lanka

MS Dhoni and India have been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during their win in the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Hambantota. Dhoni has been fined 20% of his match fee, and the rest of his team 10%, after they were ruled to be an over short when time allowances were taken into consideration.

Dhoni has got into trouble for over-rate breaches in the past. In January this year, he was suspended from the Adelaide Test against Australia due a slow over-rate in the previous Test in Perth. Dhoni had also been on notice after India were found short in Barbados in June-July last year. His woes, aside from the team's poor form in Australia, didn't end there. He was again suspended in February, this time for an ODI, after India fell short by two overs in a game against Australia in the CB series.

The fine was imposed after a full disciplinary hearing with the match-referee Chris Broad.

Following a groin injury to Nuwan Kulasekara - who was ruled out of the series after yesterday's game - during the Indian innings, it was unclear for a while if he'd come out to bat during Sri Lanka's chase. Sri Lanka lost their ninth wicket in the 49th over of the chase, and Kulasekara then walked in at No.11 - though part of the lower order, Kulasekara, when fit, batted much higher. Sri Lanka batted out the remainder of the innings with Lasith Malinga blasting 19 off 10 deliveries, 16 of them in the final over from Umesh Yadav.