Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Eoin Morgan has been penalised for maintaining a slow over-rate during the game against Chennai Super Kings on April 21. This was KKR’s first offense of the season under the IPL’s Code of Conduct relating to a minimum over-rate offenses.
Previously, Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni and Mumbai’s Rohit Sharma were also found guilty of the same offense. Incidentally, as per the IPL guidelines, the captain of the erring team is docked 12 lakh in fine on the first instance of slow over-rate. On the second instance during the season, the fine for the captain is doubled (INR 24 lakh) while every other member of the playing XI is fined 25 percent of the match fee or INR 6 lakh – whichever is lesser.
When the offense is committed for the third time in a season, the captain has to pay a fee of INR 30 lakh and serve a one-match ban, while the rest of the members of the playing XI are charged with a fine of INR 12 lakh or 50 percent of match fee – whichever is lesser. These same sanctions apply for any subsequent offenses.
Eoin Morgan & Co go down fighting against Chennai
Meanwhile speaking of the game, Kolkata Knight Riders put up a valiant effort with the bat before going down against Chennai Super Kings. Chasing 221 runs, the Knight Riders were at 31 for five at one stage losing the top-order including skipper Eoin Morgan. But the big Jamaican Andre Russell launched a carnage at the Wankhede Stadium hitting a 21-ball half-century before Dinesh Karthik and Pat Cummins joined the party.
The Aussie almost took Kolkata over the line but lacked partners at the other end. He remained unbeaten on 66 runs off just 34 deliveries padded up with six towering hits and four boundaries. Despite a heroic attempt, Kolkata fell short by 18 runs to now sit at the sixth spot with one victory from four matches.
