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Ridiculous and pathetic or 'no crime?': 'Mankad' madness erupts as England loses T20 series 3-0 to India

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25th September, 2022
23

Move over underarm bowl, there’s a new controversy in town.

The cricketing world has once again been left divided after the unsportsmanlike ‘mankad’ action was used during the India v England T20 match overnight at Lords. Indian bowler Deepti Sharma won the game for her country by running out non-striker Charlie Dean mid-bowl after the English batswoman had left her crease.

England all-rounder Georgia Elwiss, who was not playing in the match, was not impressed. “Has that not just left the sourest taste in the mouth at the end of this international summer? I’m dumbfounded,” she said on BBC Test Match Special.

“I cannot believe the Indian team felt that was the only way they were going to get a wicket. I don’t think Charlie Dean was trying to gain any sort of advantage. It’s ridiculous.

“For me, Harmanpreet Kaur has got to look at her side and think, ‘is that how we want to win games of cricket?’ Can she not withdraw that appeal?

“It’s taken the shine off Jhulan Goswami’s big send-off. She’s doing the lap of honour but everyone else in the ground is just stunned at how it’s finished.”

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But Indian captain Kaur had no issue with what had just unfolded.

“Today whatever we have done I don’t think it was any crime, it is part of the game and it is an ICC rule and I think we just need to back our player,” said Kaur.

“I don’t think (Sharma) has done something wrong and we just need to back her.”

England trailed 2-0 to India but looked to be closing in on victory in the final one-day international of the series – and summer – at Lord’s on Saturday.

Charlie Dean had looked comfortable at the crease and hit a chanceless 47 at number nine as the hosts looked to be closing in on an unlikely victory.

But bowler Deepti Sharma took the bails off after entering her delivery stride.

It is a rare form of dismissal but has been used before, including by Indian bowlers Vinoo Mankad, after whom it has traditionally been known.

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There has previously been an unwritten convention to offer the batter a warning, though the relevant law was recently moved by the International Cricket Council from the ‘Unfair play’ section and filed instead under ‘Run out’.

Immediately after the third umpire upheld the decision, Dean threw her bat to the ground in tears as boos rang out from the crowd.

The match should have been a historic moment for India and England as they returned to Lord’s for the first time in five years since they met at the 2017 World Cup final, but it will be remembered for the final controversy.

India had already won the series, having won the first two matches comfortably, but had been pushed onto the back foot as England and Dean worked hard to give themselves a chance of victory before Sharma’s action.

England required 17 to win when the run-out occurred, with Dean leading the way alongside No.11 Freya Davies, chasing India’s total of 169 in a low-scoring contest.

The hosts had previously slumped in their chase from 27 without loss to 6 for 53.

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Kate Cross was the pick of the England bowlers, taking 4 for 26, with Smriti Mandhana hitting 50 and Deepti Sharma an unbeaten 68 for India. Despite admitting that she would never take a wicket in that, Cross understands that it’s part of the game.

“I think it’s a dismissal that’s always going to divide opinion. That’s all that’s ever going to get said about it: some people are going to like it, some people aren’t,” said Cross.

“Deepti chose to dismiss Charlie Dean that way. I’m more disappointed for Charlie Dean that she couldn’t get a fifty at Lord’s today because she looked set to do that.

“If we’re looking at the real positives, then maybe that’s the only way they could have got Deano out today.”

The game was Jhulan Goswami’s final India appearance, as she bowed out of international cricket having made her debut back in 2002.

She was out for a golden duck after coming out to a guard of honour, dismissed by Freya Kemp who was not born when she earned her first international cap. 

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However, she showed her experience and talent with the ball, taking 2 for 30 from her 10 overs.

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It brings to an end Lisa Keightley’s reign as England women’s head coach when India claimed the final wicket of the series with a run-out at the non-striker’s end.

The 51-year-old, from New South Wales, is leaving after informing the ECB she wouldn’t be seeking a contract extension.

Keightley has been in the role since January 2020, taking the team to the semi-final of the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and the final of the 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup.

© AAP

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