Shane Warne has been banned for one match and fined for his clash with Marlon Samuels in the Big Bash Melbourne derby at the MCG. The Melbourne Stars skipper engaged in a verbal war of words with Samuels, before the former Australian spinner threw the ball into the West Indian’s midriff in the act of returning it to the wicketkeeper.

That prompted Samuels to hurl his bat in Warne’s direction, sparking more exchanges in a match eventually won by the Renegades by nine wickets.

Warne, whose side face the Sydney Thunder tomorrow looking for a place in the semi-finals, tweeted last night: “I have decided to accept my penalty of a 1 match ban ! Let’s hope the boys can win tomorrow we can make the semi finals... Thanks for support guys, sport can be an emotional at times very passionate too. I went to far in trying to stand up for the team !!” However, he also said he felt he had been harshly treated.

Both Warne and Samuels were charged following the incident, although Samuels did not face the charges yesterday morning as he suffered a serious knock to his eye after top-edging a delivery from Lasith Malinga into his face. Warne, though, was suspended for his part in the clash.