The International Cricket Council (ICC) has fined South African bowler Vernon Philander 75 percent of his match fee for tampering with the ball during the Test match in Sri Lanka.
Philander accepted the punishment without contest as the fast-bowler was deemed to have scratched the surface of the ball with his finger and thumb during third-day's play in Galle on Friday.
Philander is the second South African to be found guilty of ball tampering, The BBC reported.
Faf du Plessis was fined 50 percent of his match fee last October after he was caught by television cameras rubbing the ball close to the zip on his trouser pocket during a Test match against Pakistan in the UAE.
Philander's offence had not been captured live on air but was picked up after the day's play had finished when on-field umpires Billy Bowden and Richard Kettleborough, along with third umpire Nigel Llong, reviewed the day's footage.
The ICC's Code of Conduct states altering the condition of the ball as a level two offence and it carries a penalty of 50-100 percent of the match fee and/or suspension from one Test or two ODIs for a first offence.
South Africa are currently in charge of the first Test in Galle, thanks to Dale Steyn's five-wicket haul on Friday, and they hold a 172-run lead after scoring 455 for nine declared and then reducing the host side 238 for nine.
