India Women tightened their grip on the one-off Test against England at Lord’s after a dominant second day, with pacer Kranti Gaud’s maiden five-wicket haul and Smriti Mandhana’s unbeaten half-century putting the visitors within touching distance of a famous victory.
At stumps, India were 154 for 1 in their second innings, extending their overall lead to 269 runs after bowling England out for 170 in reply to their first-innings total. With nine wickets still in hand and two full days remaining, India head into Day 3 firmly in control.
England vs India, Lord’s Test: Updates | Scorecard
GAUD LEADS CHARGE
The day belonged to Kranti Gaud, whose incisive spell of 5 for 37 dismantled England’s batting line-up and ensured the hosts never recovered despite a spirited middle-order stand.
Having removed Tammy Beaumont late on the opening day, Gaud wasted little time on Saturday, striking in the second over of the morning when Maia Bouchier edged behind to wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia.
Her standout wicket came soon after as Alice Capsey was beaten by just enough movement to have her off stump pegged back.
With Sayali Satghare trapping former captain Heather Knight lbw, England slipped to 47 for 4 before captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amy Jones steadied the innings.
The pair added 84 runs for the fifth wicket, with Jones bringing up a fluent half-century and Sciver-Brunt providing solid support as England threatened to erase India’s first-innings advantage.
India, however, responded emphatically after lunch. Sneh Rana broke the partnership by dismissing Jones for 52 before Gaud returned to wrap up the lower order, completing her maiden five-wicket haul in red-ball cricket. Satghare and Rana chipped in with two wickets apiece as England lost their final five wickets for just 33 runs.
MANDHANA STANDS TALL
Armed with a first-innings lead of 115, India approached their second innings with discipline and authority, led once again by Smriti Mandhana.
The left-hander remained unbeaten on 69 from 124 deliveries, following up her first-innings fifty with another composed knock that put England’s bowlers under sustained pressure.
Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave India the ideal start, adding 88 runs for the opening wicket. While Shafali was the more aggressive of the two, scoring 33 before holing out to substitute fielder Emma Lamb off Sophie Ecclestone, Mandhana anchored the innings with trademark elegance.
Her cover drives were a feature of the innings, while a lofted six straight back over Ecclestone highlighted her growing confidence.
Yastika Bhatia then joined Mandhana to frustrate England further, with the pair stitching together an unbroken 66-run stand for the second wicket to take India safely to stumps.
With a 269-run lead, nine wickets in hand and batting conditions still favourable, India will resume on Day 3 eyeing a target well beyond England’s reach and a memorable Test victory at the Home of Cricket.
– Ends
