NPS's Matt Renshaw reprimanded by ICC for send-off to India A skipper Manish Pandey

Australia’s National Performance Squad batsman Matt Renshaw has been sanctioned by the ICC for aiming a send off in the direction of India A skipper Manish Pandey during their clash on Saturday after he had taken a brilliant catch diving forward to dismiss the batsman for 10. The scoreline read 41/3 at the moment but India A recovered from the early hiccup to strode to a six-wicket victory thereby sealing a spot in the final of the Quadrangular series that also features Australia A and South Africa A.

Renshaw’s actions seemed to be in retaliation to an incident in the clash between the same two sides earlier in the tournament when Pandey had refused to walk after being adjudged LBW by the on-field umpire, thus inviting a sanction upon himself for breaching ICC Code of Conduct’s Article 2.1.5 – showing dissent at an umpire’s decision in a match – a level 1 offence. He was fined 25% of his match fees for the incident after accepting the charge levied at him.

Renshaw has meanwhile been charged under Article 2.1.7 of the ICC Code of Conduct – using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressing reaction upon dismissal during an international match – a level 1 offence. The 20-year-old, who was playing his first match in the Quadrangular series and scored 31 runs with the bat, accepted the sanction with the match referee taking a lenient view considering that it was his first Level 1 offence under ICC’s code of conduct.

India A have made a brilliant turnaround in the series after suffering an embarrassing start to proceedings being bundled out for 55 in their opening match against Australia A. Rahul Dravid’s side quickly found their bearing though as they scripted victories over NPS and South Africa A while their second clash against the latter ended in a draw after being washed out due to rain.

While the win over NPS ensured India A’s route to the final, Australia A made their own chances a world of good with their eight-wicket victory over South Africa A on Sunday. NPS will now have to hope that India A defeats Australia A in their final group game while also ensuring that they get the better of South Africa A to maintain any hopes of securing a place in the final to be placed ext Sunday.