G.S. Lakshmi of the ICC International Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after India were found two overs short of their target, even after time allowances were considered. Under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, players are fined five percent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur pled guilty and accepted the sanction, avoiding a formal hearing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The penalty capped off a historic clash in which both teams produced the highest-ever aggregate in a women\u2019s ODI \u2014 748 runs in 94.5 overs \u2014 with 99 fours and 12 sixes struck between them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia, led by Beth Mooney\u2019s sublime 138, piled up 412 in 47.5 overs to post their highest ODI total. India\u2019s reply was equally breathtaking, powered by Smriti Mandhana\u2019s blistering 125 off just 63 balls, the fastest century by an Indian in women\u2019s ODIs. Her knock, studded with 17 fours and five sixes, lit up the packed stands as India surged past 100 in just nine overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Smriti\u2019s fifty came in only 23 balls, also the quickest by an Indian in the format. She and Harmanpreet (52) added 121 runs in quick time to keep India in the chase, while Deepti Sharma contributed a fighting 72. But regular wickets in the middle overs halted the momentum, and India were bowled out for 369 in 47 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Despite defeat, India created history by becoming the first team to cross 300 in a chase against Australia in women\u2019s ODIs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Smriti\u2019s fifty came in only 23 balls, also the quickest by an Indian in the format. She and Harmanpreet (52) added 121 runs in quick time to keep India in the chase, while Deepti Sharma contributed a fighting 72. But regular wickets in the middle overs halted the momentum, and India were bowled out for 369 in 47 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Saturday\u2019s thriller also served as a high-voltage curtain-raiser to the ICC Women\u2019s Cricket World Cup, which begins September 30. India open their campaign in Guwahati against Sri Lanka, while Australia face New Zealand in Indore on October 1.<\/p>\r\n\r\n