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Lord’s, 19 July 2025 – England’s second women’s ODI against India never looked likely to escape references to the 2022 ‘Mankad’ that ended Charlie Dean’s innings. With India back at the same ground, with Deepti Sharma once again holding the ball at the Pavilion End, questions were inevitable.
They arrived early. In the fifth over of England’s reduced chase of 144 from 29 overs, Tammy Beaumont clipped Sharma to mid-wicket, hesitated, and scrambled back. Jemimah Rodrigues’ return struck Beaumont’s pad as she regained her ground. Richa Ghosh appealed for obstructing the field, and the umpires called for a review.
Smriti Mandhana, fielding at mid-on, admitted the moment made memories flood back. “Doesn’t happen, right? You come to Lord’s and that question is not asked?” she smiled afterwards. “We didn’t really think anything about all of that incident. Only today, there was one random appeal for Tammy Beaumont, when that happened. And again, Deepti was bowling. That’s when we cracked a joke that Lord’s and Deepti has an, I don’t know how I term it in words, but we had a small joke around it.”
The technology showed Beaumont anchored behind the line, and the appeal was dismissed. “I was not in a really good angle, to be fair, probably it was not visible at all,” Mandhana said. “Jemmi definitely felt that maybe she kicked it or something. They referred it and it was not out, so I’m sure that they should have seen all the angles.”
Beaumont, 25 from 17 at the time, shared a quiet word with partner Amy Jones while the big screen replayed events. “It was weird,” Jones said. “I’ve never been out there for one of those before, I don’t think. The umpires were happy that Tammy was in her crease, so she wasn’t trying to not get run out, but obviously they appealed for obstructing the field. I learned that even if you’re in, you can still be out, but obviously Tammy had no intent of actually obstructing them.”
Two balls later Sharma halted in her delivery stride, seeming to check Beaumont’s backing-up. No further appeal followed, and play rolled on, but the ground’s chatter had already shifted to history rather than the live score.
When the rain came – twice – it complicated matters, yet England’s DLS-adjusted target always looked within reach. Jones anchored the reply with 46 not out, guiding the hosts to a four-wicket win that levelled the series 1-1. Her strike rotation was decisive on a surface slowed by showers and a heavy outfield. Nat Sciver-Brunt’s brisk 32 added vital momentum after Beaumont’s eventual dismissal for 33.
India’s 143 for 8 in 31 overs owed much to Mandhana’s compact 44 and a late cameo from Pooja Vastrakar. Sophie Ecclestone, building rhythm on her return from injury, claimed 3 for 28, varying pace and flight cleverly despite a damp ball. “I felt in good rhythm today,” she said. “It’s always a challenge gripping it after rain, but you trust your processes.”
From India’s perspective, the total felt light. Mandhana acknowledged as much. “We were probably 20 short,” she said. “The pitch had a bit in it, but once the sun came out scoring was easier. Credit to England, they kept us under pressure.”
Kate Cross led England’s new-ball effort with admirable economy, allowing Ecclestone freedom through the middle. Cross later insisted the Beaumont incident never ruffled the dressing room. “We’ve all moved on,” she said. “Things happen in cricket. The umpires dealt with it quickly, we just cracked on.”
Statisticians noted that obstructing the field has been awarded only once in women’s ODIs – to Pakistan’s Nain Abidi in 2012 – underlining the rarity of such appeals. Laws permit a dismissal if a batter wilfully blocks a throw, even when safely home, but intent remains the key measure. Shane Watson famously survived a comparable moment in an Ashes Test, and debate has lingered since.
For casual viewers, the distinction between obstructing the field and being run out is subtle. The batter must deliberately deflect the ball to prevent a dismissal or gain an advantage. Accidental contact, or an action taken primarily to regain ground, is not enough. On this occasion, replay angles showed Beaumont’s movement was natural, her foot planted inside the crease.
As the sides head to Hove for the decider, England carry momentum, but India know they matched the hosts for long stretches despite losing. Bowling coach Troy Cooley praised his attack’s control. “We executed pretty well,” he said. “A couple more breakthroughs and we’re right in that.”
Emily Arlott, unused today, could feature if conditions favour swing. India may ponder an extra seamer after seeing early movement under the lights.
The Lord’s crowd left murmuring less about controversy than about a tight, rain-affected contest. That might be the most encouraging sign of progress since 2022.
