On July 11, India finally won their first T20I of the series against England in Hove and leveled the series 1-1. Shafali Verma’s 48 powered India to a defendable total of 148 and the amazing bowling by Deepti Sharma and Poonam Yadav helped India restrict England and won the match by 8 runs.
With just 44 runs needed off 42 balls, Heather Knight, who was on the non-striker’s end, got out off a ball that bounced off of Deepti Sharma’s shoe and hit the stumps. England, who just lost Tammy Beaumont on the fourth ball of the 14th over, had to lose Skipper Heather Knight on the fifth ball of the very same over.
One of the most bizarre runouts you’ll see. Heather Knight is caught outside the crease at non-striker’s end and the ball rebounds on to the stumps off Deepti Sharma. 😅 #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/qc2wGFLEL1
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) July 11, 2021
The decision was made by the third umpire who confirmed that Knight was out of the crease when the ball hit the stumps and there was also some unintentional contact between the bowler Sharma and Knight. Cricketer turned commentator Alex Hartley was not pleased with the third umpire’s decision and said on Test Match Special radio coverage, ‘Is that not obstruction?’
Watch the video here
Meanwhile, Mark Butcher, who was in the broadcast panel said, “The question is, has the bowler obstructed the batter from getting back in? It certainly wasn’t intentional, was it? In that case, Heather Knight’s out.”
Let’s see what the law says:
According to Law 41.5, with regards to obstruction of batters, states, “It is indeed unfair for any fielder to willfully come in the way of batters, either by word or action, either by deceiving, or obstructing, after the striker has received the ball. The umpires then have to decide whether such acts from the bowlers and fiddlers are done willfully, or by distracting the batter.”
The duo of Deepti Sharma and Poonam Yadav helped India gain control of the game in the second inning with their splendid bowling and fielding.
The series decider will be played on July 14 at the County Ground in Chelmsford. India will have to win the next match to win the multi-format series which currently stands at 8-6 in England’s favor.
