The path to the WTC final next year in London continues to be full of twists and turns. The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced sanctions against New Zealand and England for failing to maintain the required over-rate during the series opener in Christchurch
As a result, both teams were fined 15 per cent of their match fees and penalised three crucial WTC competition points, adding another layer of intrigue to the race for the final
England skipper Ben Stokes and New Zealand captain Tom Latham accepted the charges and the proposed sanctions, negating the need for a formal hearing
England, already out of contention for next year's final, secured an 8-wicket victory in Christchurch. However, the sanctions dealt a significant blow to New Zealand's chances
New Zealand dropped from joint-fourth to fifth in the WTC rankings
New Zealand's points percentage stands at 47.92 per cent. Even if they win their remaining two Tests against England, their best possible finish is a points percentage of 55.36 per cent. Their fate in reaching the WTC final will depend on the outcomes of other matches
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