Kevin Pietersen Warned By Ipl for Reaction to Falling to Muralitharan

Kevin Pietersen has received an official warning from the Indian Premier League after objecting to his first-ball dismissal at the hands of Muttiah Muralitharan in Port Elizabeth last night. Pietersen, captain of the Bangalore Royal Challengers, said after he was dismissed lbw by the Chennai Super Kings off-spinner that he felt he had got a nick on the ball.

He was later cited for dissent by the match referee, Gundappa Viswanath. Pietersen escaped that charge, but was still found guilty of a level-one offense after a meaningful stare at the edge of his bat following the decision by the respected Australian umpire Simon Taufel. Asked about the dismissal afterwards, Pietersen replied: "I think I got a little nick on it, but such is life."

Murali felt Pietersen had not edged the ball, saying: "I didn't think he edged it and nor did [Chennai captain] Mahendra Singh Dhoni. That's why we appealed. It's up to the umpire to make the decision." Replays – studied by the match officials before last night's hearing – seemed to back the bowler up.

Pietersen was fined £1,650 for dissent during the second Test against India in Mohali in 2005-06, and becomes the first player in this year's IPL to be hauled in front of the match officials. All eight franchise captains, including Pietersen, signed an MCC Spirit of Cricket declaration before Saturday's opening ceremony at Newlands, pledging to uphold standards on the field.

The warning completed a miserable 24 hours for the former England captain after his side were skittled for 87 by a Chennai Super Kings side containing an in-form Andrew Flintoff.