Charlie Dean's brilliant response after 'shameful' cricket incident

Charlie Dean may have been the victim of a controversy that has divided the cricket world, but at least the England women's star can see the funny side of it.

Dean was left in tears at Lord's on Saturday evening when she run out by Indian bowler Deepti Sharma in a highly contentious 'Mankad' dismissal.

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England were eyeing a remarkable win in the third one-day international, needing 17 runs off the final 39 balls with just one wicket in hand.

However, Dean was left distraught when she was deceived into thinking Sharma was about to bowl, with the Indian spinner instead stopping and whipping off the bails at the non-striker's end.

The match-winning play sparked widespread backlash across the cricket world, with many fans describing it as a "shameful" way to win a cricket match.

A shattered Dean showed her class by refusing to blow up about the questionable end to the match, instead shaking the hands of India's players and congratulating them on the win.

While Dean is no doubt still hurting about the manner of her side's loss to India, the England spinner demonstrated in superb fashion, that she's moved on from the incident.

Playing in a game for the South Vipers in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy at Lord's on Sunday - less than 24 hours after England's brutal defeat - Dean was already in joking mood about the 'Mankad' controversy.

In just her second delivery of the day, Dean had her own chance to dismiss a batter with a 'Mankad', only to laugh and turn around to start her run-up again.

The spinner couldn't help but have a laugh as she gestured towards the batter at the non-striker's end, before walking back to her mark.

Dean's cheeky act was roundly applauded by fans on social media.

The 'Mankad' is named after Indian bowler Vinoo Mankad - the first player to use the controversial method of dismissal in a Test match against Australia in 1948.

ICC change laws to legitimise 'Mankad'

Just last week the ICC moved to legitimise the dismissal, taking it out of a section under 'unfair play' in its official rule book and into the section about run-outs.

However, the change won't come into affect until next month's T20 World Cup, and the cricket world is still clearly uneasy about its place in the game.

Immediately after the third umpire upheld the decision, Dean threw her bat to the ground in tears as boos rang out from the crowd.

England all-rounder Georgia Elwiss, who was not playing in the match against India, was thoroughly unimpressed by the manner in which her side had lost the ODI.

"Has that not just left the sourest taste in the mouth at the end of this international summer? I'm dumbfounded," she said on BBC Test Match Special.

“I cannot believe the Indian team felt that was the only way they were going to get a wicket. I don’t think Charlie Dean was trying to gain any sort of advantage. It’s ridiculous.

“For me, Harmanpreet Kaur has got to look at her side and think, ‘is that how we want to win games of cricket?’ Can she not withdraw that appeal?

“It’s taken the shine off Jhulan Goswami’s big send-off. She’s doing the lap of honour but everyone else in the ground is just stunned at how it’s finished.”

Former England spinner Alex Hartley said: “I just don’t think that’s how you should finish an international game. England are going to be absolutely seething.”

Props to Dean that she's already been able to move on from the drama and make light of the ugly incident.

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