Kate Cross: We didn't lose that game because of that last wicket

NICK FRIEND AT LORD'S: Harmanpreet Kaur insisted that Deepti Sharma had done nothing wrong in running out Charlie Dean at the non-striker's end as she backed up

Kate Cross refused to condemn Deepti Sharma's runout of Charlie Dean to clinch India an ODI series whitewash at Lord's, instead focusing on England's own struggles in a tense run-chase and the emotional ending to Jhulan Goswami's international career.

England needed just 17 runs to win when Sharma ran out Dean, who was unbeaten on 47, in her delivery stride to bring to an end a faltering run-chase that had recovered from 53 for 6 to 153 for 9.

"Losing any game of cricket is disappointing," said the seamer, who had earlier dismantled India's top order but fell one wicket short of a place on the Lord's honours board.

"Ultimately, it's Deepti's choice how she goes about that, and we've lost that game of cricket. What we did say in the dressing room was that we didn't lose that game of cricket because of that last wicket."

Earlier, England had lost wickets in four consecutive overs, having initially reached 27 without loss, only for Emma Lamb, Tammy Beuamont, Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley, and Danni Wyatt to fall one after another. It was only Amy Jones, in her final game as stand-in captain, who launched a lower-order rearguard alongside Dean, who was then accompanied by Cross and Freya Davies after Jones had picked out deep square leg with a pull shot.

"I think it was obviously with a lot of the earlier partnerships that weren't able to be extended, and actually Deano, Freya and Amy – the way they batted at the end gave us a really good chance of getting to that total."

^{Deepti Sharma ran out Charlie Dean to end proceedings (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)}

Cross insisted that she wouldn't have done as Sharma did but admitted that she didn't know the laws and didn't begrudge the Indian off-spinner, who had earlier played beautifully for her unbeaten 68, for dismissing Dean in that manner.

"I think it's a dismissal that's always going to divide opinion," said Cross. "That's all that’s ever going to get said about it: some people are going to like it, some people aren't. Deepti chose to dismiss Charlie Dean that way. I'm more disappointed for Charlie Dean that she couldn't get a fifty at Lord's today because she looked set to do that."

India's captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, added: "Today, whatever we have done, I don't think it was any crime, it's part of the game, it's an ICC rule.

"I'm actually very happy she was aware of that, the batter is taking too long a stride. I don't think she has done anything wrong and we just need to back her.

"I don't think we have done any crime. It's part of the ICC rules, it's called a run-out and we've done that. I don't think we need to talk about that because the first nine wickets were also very important and everybody was working so hard. It was a chaseable total but the way our bowlers bowled and the whole team putting in the effort, there were a lot of things to celebrate other than just talking about the last wicket."

^{Jhulan Goswami retired from international cricket (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)}

Kaur praised Sharma for her awareness and referred to a disputed catch taken by Sophie Ecclestone during the preceding T20I series but was keener to focus on Goswami's exit from the international stage after a remarkable 20-year career. The tall fast bowler cleaned up Cross with her 10,001st delivery in ODI cricket, having earlier been given a signed shirt by England a guard of honour as she walked out to bat.

"It was a very emotional moment for all of us," said Kaur. We're very grateful for all the years. She really helped us a lot, we need those types of players who can also come and help others also. So, we're really happy we've had someone like her in the dressing room."

Cross added: "For some of our young girls like [Freya Kemp] and Alice (Capsey), Kempy wasn't born when Jhulan made her debut. But for players like that, they'll remember that for the rest of their careers.

"Hopefully it goes to show how impactful people can be within this sport. I was really proud to see Jhulan go out there in front of 15,000 people at Lord's and be able to sign off in that way because not many people get to choose how they do it, so it was ultimately a really special day for her."

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