Phoebe Litchfield’s dismissal in The Women’s Hundred 2026 final should have been called ‘dead ball’ because of Georgia Adams’ movement before the ball was bowled, the MCC has said. Sunrisers Leeds lost the final to Trent Rockets by eight wickets. Litchfield had scored 10 runs from her first four balls before she was caught at short fine leg while trying to play a lap sweep against seamer Charley Phillips. Adams moved paces to her left as Phillips ran in, then continued moving in that direction when she saw Litchfield jump across her stumps.
The MCC said Adams’ initial movement, which happened before the ball was bowled, contravened Law 28.6. The law says that movement by a fielder, excluding the wicket-keeper, after the ball comes into play and before it reaches the striker is unfair, apart from specific exceptions. These include minor adjustments to stance or position, certain movement towards the striker that does not significantly alter the fielder’s position, and movement in response to the stroke the striker is playing or appears likely to play. The MCC said Adams’ movement did not fall under these exceptions.
The MCC said, “The batter has an absolute right to know where the fielders are, and any change of position, like Adams’ movement during the run up, is a clear violation of this right. Any sideways movement after the bowler begins their run-up, until the striker signifies what shot they will play, is therefore illegal.”
The MCC also explained why the dismissal was allowed to stand during the final. It said, “The on-field umpires, who cannot always be expected to spot everything when they have other things to observe, did not see the illegal movement and so the dismissal stood. If they had noticed it, they would have called Dead ball and awarded five Penalty Runs to the batting side.” The umpires did not notice Adams’ movement before the ball reached Litchfield.
Litchfield was caught at short fine leg by Adams after attempting the lap sweep against Phillips. The MCC’s clarification means that the movement was illegal because it happened before Litchfield signalled the shot she intended to play. If the umpires had noticed it, they would have called Dead ball and awarded five Penalty Runs to Sunrisers Leeds. Instead, the dismissal counted and Litchfield was out for 10. Sunrisers Leeds eventually lost the final by eight wickets.
Adams played an important role in Trent Rockets’ victory and was named player of the match after the final. She took 2 for 9 in 15 balls and was involved in pulling off a run-out. After the final, Adams said that the catch had been “pretty surreal.” She explained that she had expected Litchfield to attempt a ramp after noticing her quick glance towards the field behind her. Adams then moved towards the expected shot.
Adams said, “I had this sense that she was going to ramp. I saw her take a quick glance at the field behind and she knew that they (the fielders) were both up, and it’s obviously a big part of her game. I thought, if I see her go for it, I’m just going to charge, and thankfully I stuck a hand out and it stuck.”
The MCC’s statement clarified that Litchfield’s dismissal should have been called dead ball because of Adams’ movement before the delivery. The on-field umpires did not spot the illegal movement, so the dismissal stood. Had they noticed it, Sunrisers Leeds would have received five Penalty Runs. Trent Rockets went on to win the Hundred final by eight wickets.
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