South Africa has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during its victory in the opening game of the ODI series against India at Kanpur on Sunday.

Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the fine after AB de Villiers’ side was ruled to be two overs short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration.

De Villiers was fined 40 per cent of his match fee, while his players received 20 per cent fines.

The Proteas captain had previously been found guilty of minor over-rate offences on two occasions in the past 12 months (in Perth in November 2014 and during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015), and served a one match suspension during the first ODI against Bangladesh in July.

This is deemed to be a first offence for the purpose of a penalty. If South Africa commit another minor over-rate breach in ODIs within 12 months of this offence with De Villiers as captain, it will be deemed a second offence and he will again face a suspension.

De Villiers pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.