Brief Score: India (285, 341/7 declared), beat England (170 and 186) buy 270 runs on Day 4 at Lord’s. Yastika Bhatia (113 in 2nd innings), Smriti Mandhana (83 in 1st innings); Kranti Gaud (5/37 in 1st innings), Sneh Rana (4/42 in 2nd innings).
The first-ever women’s Test at Lord’s deserved a moment worthy of the occasion. Harmanpreet Kaur’s India delivered exactly that, hammering England by 270 runs on the final morning to become the first team to win a women’s Test at the Home of Cricket.
Lord’s has witnessed some of cricket’s greatest triumphs over the past 140 years. On Monday, India’s women added a historic chapter of their own. While this generation has lifted a World Cup on home soil and illuminated the stage of the Women’s Premier League, they will also be remembered for achieving an unforgettable milestone at the iconic venue.
Lord’s Test Highlights | Scorecard
It took the visitors less than four overs on Monday morning to secure the final breakthrough, capping four days of absolute superiority over the hosts. Having arrived in the United Kingdom a fortnight early to prepare, India looked thoroughly at home, navigating the conditions, the psychological weight of the occasion and the notorious Lord’s slope with the relaxed authority usually reserved for a familiar domestic venue.
As Harmanpreet Kaur’s side celebrated the win, International Cricket Council chairman Jay Shah and former captain Sachin Tendulkar were in the stands cheering the team on. Tendulkar later walked onto the ground to congratulate the victorious side as they made their way back to the pavilion after Sneh Rana claimed the final wicket, ending Sophie Ecclestone’s resistance on Monday morning.
UNBEATEN RUN IN ENGLAND
With the win, India extended their unbeaten run in Test matches in England. They have now won three and drawn seven of their 10 Tests in the country. It was also the women’s team’s fourth victory in their last five Tests.
The foundations of this monumental triumph were laid over the opening two days through a blend of commanding batting and relentless pace bowling.
After England won the toss and elected to bowl on a green-tinged surface, India posted a commanding first-innings total of 285. The centrepiece of that effort was a majestic knock from vice-captain Smriti Mandhana. The elegant left-handed opener defied a disciplined England attack, striking 11 boundaries and a crisp six in a masterclass of timing and composure. Mandhana’s 83 anchored the top order, allowing captain Harmanpreet Kaur (58) and the ever-reliable Deepti Sharma (57) to build substantial partnerships that frustrated the hosts.
KRANTI, YASTIKA SCRIPT HISTORY
If Mandhana provided the initial cushion, it was young seam sensation Kranti Gaud who truly turned the match into a one-sided affair. Armed with natural swing and a sharp opening spell from the Nursery End, the 22-year-old Madhya Pradesh pacer dismantled the England batting line-up in their first innings. Gaud bowled with exceptional discipline, claiming a sensational five-wicket haul for just 37 runs across 17 overs, including seven maidens. Her relentless line and length triggered a dramatic collapse, bowling England out for a meagre 170 and handing India a crucial 115-run first-innings lead.
With a significant advantage in hand, the Indian batters completely took the game away from England in the second innings. Mandhana continued her stellar form with a fluent 70, whilst Richa Ghosh smashed a quickfire 50 off just 52 balls. However, the innings belonged unconditionally to wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia.
Bhatia etched her name onto the prestigious Lord’s Honours Board, becoming the first woman in history to score a Test century at the ground. Displaying flawless shot selection and immense mental fortitude, Bhatia compiled a brilliant 113 from 158 deliveries, punctuated by 14 elegant boundaries. Her historic milestone pushed India into a position of complete control, allowing Harmanpreet Kaur to declare at 341 for seven at the stroke of tea on Day 3. Despite a valiant marathon spell from England spinner Sophie Ecclestone, who claimed five for 118, the target had been pushed well beyond the hosts’ reach.
Faced with a daunting target of 457, England’s second innings dissolved into a desperate rearguard effort under relentless pressure. India’s multifaceted bowling attack gave the home side no respite. Sneh Rana led the dismantling with a clever spell of off-spin, claiming three for 42, whie first-innings heroes Gaud and Deepti Sharma chipped in with two wickets apiece to break any budding partnerships.
Amy Jones offered the lone resistance for the hosts with a fighting, unbeaten 54 on Sunday evening, but she eventually ran out of partners. Returning on the final morning needing just one wicket, India wrapped up the historic victory inside 15 minutes as Sneh Rana induced an edge from Lauren Filer, triggering wild celebrations on the Lord’s balcony and sealing a comprehensive 270-run triumph.
– Ends
