Imran Tahir Fined For David Warner Spat During SA vs AUS ODI

South Africa smashed Australia 5-0 in their ODI series but the home team was at the receiving end of the International Cricket Council for the wrong reasons.

Imran Tahir was fined 30 per cent of his match fees following a verbal duel with David Warner during the fifth ODI in Cape Town on Wednesday. The Pakistan-born leg-spinner was also handed two demerit points.

An ICC release said that Tahir had shown "a lack of respect" towards the on-field umpires by ignoring their requests to stop verbally engaging with Warner around the 38th over of Australia's chase. Tahir showered a volley of words after Warner, whose majestic ton went in vain, survived an LBW shout.

If Tahir gets four or more demerit points within a two-year period, these points could be converted into at least two suspension points, which could end up in a ban from one or two matches.

According to the ICC's rules, two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first.

Stand-in South Africa captain Faf du Plessis was fined 20 percent of his match fee for slow over-rate. The rest of the team was docked 10 percent after they fell one over short of their target.

Tahir (2/42) was one the heroes of Wednesday's win against Australia. His double strike in the space of three balls to remove Aaron Finch and Steve Smith put the Australians well behind the required rate. Chasing South Africa's 327 for eight, Australia fell short by 31 runs.

"He is an absolute gun," du Plessis said. "He is the reason we are where we are in one-day cricket. He is a competitor, he wants to win games and he wanted to show everyone that he is still our No.1 which he is. He is my banker."