Philander fined for ball tampering

South Africa seam bowler Vernon Philander has escaped a ban but has been fined 75 per cent of his match fee after accepting a charge of ball tampering during the Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.

The 29-year-old quick who is ranked third in the world by the ICC, was charged after vision emerged of him attempting to change the condition of the ball by scratching the surface with his fingers and thumb.

Quick Single: Philander tamper sheds new light

The vision wasn't broadcast but was seen by the umpires after the third day's play. Philander accepted the charge "without contest", according to a statement from the International Cricket Council.

Philander is the second South African found to have tampered with the ball after Faf du Plessis pleaded guilty to doing so last October during a Test against Pakistan in the UAE.

Du Plessis was fined 50 per cent of his match fee after he was caught on television rubbing the ball over a zipper on his trouser pocket. The ball was changed and Pakistan was awarded five penalty runs.

Quick Single: Du Plessis guilty of ball tampering

No penalty has yet been applied in the current Test against South Africa with the incident coming to light after play.

"The charge was laid following the conclusion of Friday's play and after viewing television footage by on-field umpires Billy Bowden and Richard Kettleborough, third umpire Nigel Llong, fourth umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge as well as match referee Jeff Crowe," the ICC said in a statement.

"The incident that led to the charge being laid took place in the afternoon when Philander was captured on footage changing the condition of the ball by scratching the surface with his fingers and thumb. The footage, which was not aired during live coverage, was viewed by the umpires after the close of play.

"The penalty was accepted by Philander without contest so there was no need for a hearing."

South Africa, spurred on by fast bowler Dale Steyn's impressive figures of 5-50 from a devastating spell of reverse swing late in the day, had reduced Sri Lanka to 9-283 at the close of day three, still trailing the visitors by 172 runs.

Quick Single: Steyn's reverse-swing spell devastates Sri Lanka