• ‘India lying about run-out warnings’

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    England captain Heather Knight has accused India of “lying” about giving tailender Charlie Dean warnings before her controversial ‘Mankad’ run-out in the third women’s ODI.

    The home side were chasing victory at Lord’s on Saturday when India bowler Deepti Sharma dismissed Dean, who was well out of her ground.

    Running out a non-striker backing up is allowed under cricket’s rules but has long been regarded as unsporting by many within the game.

    The rare mode of dismissal is named after Indian all-rounder Vinoo Mankad, who ran out Australian batsman Bill Brown in 1948.

    India sealed a 16-run win over England, completing a 3-0 series whitewash but tensions are still simmering, with different accounts from each side.

    Deepti said Monday that India had repeatedly warned Dean for stealing ground by backing up and was adamant they had done nothing wrong.

    “That was our plan because she was repeatedly doing it and we had warned them too,” the off-spinner said on the team’s arrival in Kolkata.

    “We had also informed the umpires. But still, she was right there so there wasn’t much we could do. We did everything according to the rules and guidelines.”

    Tweeting in response to Deepti’s comments, Knight acknowledged that Dean was dismissed legitimately but she said: “No warnings were given.

    “They don’t need to be given, so it hasn’t made the dismissal any less legitimate,” she said. “But if they’re comfortable with the decision to affect the run-out, India shouldn’t feel the need to justify it by lying about warnings.”

    The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the guardians of the laws of cricket, has said the third ODI was “properly officiated”.

    “MCC’s message to non-strikers continues to be to remain in their ground until they have seen the ball leave the bowler’s hand,” it said in a statement.

    “Then dismissals, such as the one seen yesterday, cannot happen.”

    “Whilst yesterday was indeed an unusual end to an exciting match, it was properly officiated and should not be considered as anything more.”

    © Agence France-Presse

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    Simon Borchardt