 The match referee imposed a 50% match fee fine on du Plessis after the fielder pleaded guilty, although the team manager Mohammed Moosajee maintained that penalty was "harsh", and the team decided not to challenge the finding as it may have led to heavier sanctions.Despite the "guilty" plea, team vice-captain AB de Villiers maintained that "we are not cheats" and team captain Graeme Smith denied that their participation in ball tampering tainted the series-levelling win, as South Africa went on to record an innings victory during the Test.During the same match, footage of South African medium-pace bowler Vernon Philander apparently scratching the ball with his forefinger was also brought under scrutiny, but ultimately was not considered to have constituted illegal ball tampering by the match referee.