Key Points
Harmanpreet confronted umpire after slow over rate penalty
Verbal exchange with Sophie Ecclestone escalated tensions
Amelia Kerr's historic 5-wicket haul secured MI win
Match referee's decision is final and binding
WPL in its statement said Harmanpreet admitted to "the Level 1 offence under Article 2.8 which relates to showing dissent at an umpire's decision during a match".
The incident occurred in the final over, when the on-field umpire penalised MI for a slow over rate, enforcing fielding restrictions as per the rule. This required MI to have only three fielders outside the 30-yard circle.
The MI skipper Harmanpreet was visibly displeased with the decision and confronted umpire Ajitesh Argal to challenge the call. Meanwhile, all-rounder Amelia Kerr, who was set to bowl the final over, was also visibly upset by the decision.
As the situation unfolded, England cricketer Sophie Ecclestone, standing at the non-striker's end, approached the umpire to express her views. This led to a heated exchange between Harmanpreet and Ecclestone, during which the MI captain was seen pointing a finger at her.
The umpires quickly intervened to de-escalate the situation, and Ecclestone returned to the non-striker's end, appearing frustrated. The video of the same went viral on social media.
For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee's decision is final and binding.
Coming to the match, Amelia Kerr's five-wicket haul (5-38) followed by Hayley Mathews fiery fifty (68 off 46) gave Mumbai a six-wicket victory that pushed them to second spot in the standings.
The current Purple Cap holder, Kerr, became the first bowler to claim a fifer this season, registering the best-ever bowling figures for an MI player in WPL history.
