The England Women’s cricket team has been fined 15% of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate during the first T20I against India Women, held earlier this week. The penalty was imposed after the visiting side fell two overs short of the target, even after accounting for standard time allowances. The match, which took place on Friday, saw England suffer a 97-run defeat to India, who dominated in all departments. Helen Pack, a member of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, levied the sanction under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which deals with minimum over-rate offences. According to ICC regulations, teams are fined five percent of their match fee per over short of the expected number. Read also: Keshav Maharaj Spins His Way into History with 200 Test Wickets No Formal Hearing as England Captain Accepts Sanction “There was no requirement for a formal hearing,” the ICC confirmed, as England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt accepted the charge and pled guilty to the offence. The over-rate breach was reported by on-field umpires James Middlebrook and Jacqueline Williams, with third umpire Sue Redfern and fourth umpire Anna Harris also involved in the process. The match saw a clinical performance from India. Stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana smashed a career-best 112 off 62 deliveries, powering the hosts to 210 for five. In response, England collapsed to 113 all out in 14.5 overs, handing India a dominant win and a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series. The second match is scheduled for Tuesday in Bristol, where England will aim to regroup. However, the over-rate breach has added further scrutiny to their on-field discipline. The ICC has been consistently strict on timely over completion, and this instance further underlines its enforcement. As of now, the fine remains a procedural correction without further ramifications, but it reflects the game’s increasing emphasis on pace and regulation adherence.