20 Jun 2009

Sri Lankans fined again for slow play

2:15 pm on 20 June 2009

Sri Lanka have been fined for a slow over-rate during their 57-run win over West Indies in their ICC World Twenty20 cricket semi-final at the Oval.

Kumar Sangakkara's side was ruled to be one over short of its target at the end of the West Indies innings when time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with the ICC Code of Conduct, players are fined five per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, and the captain double that amount.

Sri Lanka, who have yet to lose a match at this tournament, made 158 for 5, thanks mainly to Tillekaratne Dilshan's 96 not out, and then bowled out the West Indies for 101 with 14 balls to spare.

Pace bowler Angelo Mathews, who took three wickets in the first over of the West Indies innings, finished with 3-16.

For the Windies, Chris Gayle played a captain's role with no support from the other end.

He played and missed more than usual and was lucky not to become Mathews's fourth victim when he almost played on to the stumps but survived to carry his bat for 63 from 50 balls.

No other batsman reached double figures.

Sri Lanka will play Pakistan in the final at Lord's on Monday morning.