Cricket News

WATCH: Harmanpreet Kaur gets into heated exchange with Alyssa Healy for ‘obstructing the field’ during IND vs AUS one-off Test match

Team India captain Harmanpreet Kaur brought her team back into the game with a double strike in quick succession before stumps on Day 3. Hosts India’s multi-format series against Australia began on Thursday with a one-off Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. With Tahlia McGrath and the captain Alyssa Healy at the crease, the visitors were in the driver’s seat but Kaur’s magical spell turned the tide in India’s way.

McGrath and Healy stitched a 65+ partnership for the fourth wicket, aiming to stay on until the end of the day. However, Kaur herself was brought into the attack and got the dangerous wicket of McGrath, who scored 73 off 177 deliveries. The right-arm spinner continued her impressive spell and during the process, Healy hit a delivery straight towards her.

Despite the batter stationed inside the crease, the India captain threw the ball quickly to the striker’s end. Healy used her bat to defend the ball and it got deflected to the third-man boundary. Kaur appealed for obstructing the field, but the umpire signaled four runs in overthrows. That frustrated the bowler and she got involved in a heated exchange with the rival skipper.

Watch the video below: 

Harmanpreet vs Healy fight – pure CINEMA pic.twitter.com/vAxPH5WJt9

— R.K.𝕏 (@The_kafir_boy_2) December 23, 2023

According to MCC’s law 37.1, “Either batter is out Obstructing the field if, he/she wilfully attempts to obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action. A batter shall not be out Obstructing the field if the obstruction or distraction is accidental, or the obstruction is in order to avoid injury, or in the case of the striker, he/she makes a second or subsequent strike to guard his/her wicket lawfully.”

Kaur gets her revenge on the very next ball

Eventually, Kaur won the battle as she got rid of Healy on the very next delivery. A premeditated sweep by the right-hander on the fourth ball of the 80th over saw India get a crucial wicket before the stumps. Healy had asked for a review but all but the on-field umpire was accurate. Both set batters were sent back to the pavilion and now the likes of Ash Gardner and Annabel Sutherland will have to start from scratch on Day 4. With five wickets in hand, Australia are currently leading by 46 runs.