Explained: Why were India denied Amelia Kerr’s run out?

The Indian women were denied Amelia Kerr’s run out on the last ball of the 14th over in the fourth game of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 after she failed to make it to the crease in time. However, the umpire ruled that the over was done by that point, and the ball was declared dead. 

Deepti Sharma delivered the ball short around the off stump. Kerr hit it towards the off side, but Harmanpreet Kaur seemed to be just walking in with the ball as it was the end of the over. But Kerr and Sophie Devine tried to sneak in an extra run while the umpire handed Deepti her cap. Kaur threw the ball to keeper Richa Ghosh, who dislodged the bails with Kerr nowhere in the frame. However, the umpires decided it was a dead ball after the batters took the single. 

Meanwhile, the batters were already in the process of running the second run when Deepti was handed her cap by the umpire at the non-striker’s end. 

The Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was absolutely livid with the decision. Meanwhile, Indian head coach Amol Muzumdar also had a chat with the match officials regarding the same on the boundary side. Then Kaur and Smriti Mandhana started walking towards the Indian dugout to have a chat with the fourth umpire, but they were asked to get back to the field.

According to clause 20.1.2 of the MCC Laws of Cricket, “the ball shall be considered to be dead when it is clear to the bowler’s end umpire that the fielding side and both batters at the wicket have ceased to regard it as in play."

The decision was hence contentious, as the laws on the dead ball should have favoured the bowling side in this case, with Kerr being run out while trying to complete the second run. It might be possible that Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur might face some penalty for showing dissent against the umpire’s decision on the field. 

Interestingly, Kerr was dismissed just one delivery later when she hit a full ball from Renuka Thakur straight to Pooja Vastrakar at extra cover. 

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