India create history with dominant 270-run victory Over England in first-ever Women's Test at Lord's
PTC Web Desk: India women produced one of the finest performances in their Test cricket history by defeating England women by a massive 270 runs in the first-ever women's Test match played at Lord's. The victory marked a historic milestone as India became the first team to win a women's Test at the iconic venue, completing an outstanding all-round display across four days.
Resuming play on the fourth morning, India needed only one wicket to complete the victory. The visitors wasted no time as their bowlers wrapped up England's innings within the opening few overs, sparking celebrations among the Indian players and support staff.
The foundation of India's memorable win was laid with strong batting performances in both innings. After posting 285 in the first innings, India extended their dominance in the second innings by declaring at 341 for seven. The declaration left England with a daunting target of 457, which proved far beyond the reach of the home side.
Wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia emerged as the star of the match with a magnificent century in the second innings. She played with patience and confidence, scoring 113 runs from 158 deliveries and striking 14 boundaries. Her innings not only strengthened India's position but also made history, as she became the first woman to score a Test century at Lord's and earned a place on the famous Honours Board.
Opener Smriti Mandhana also made valuable contributions during the match. After scoring an impressive 83 in the first innings, she continued her fine form with a fluent 70 in the second innings. Richa Ghosh added further momentum with a quick half-century, helping India build an imposing lead before captain Harmanpreet Kaur declared the innings.
England's bowlers struggled to contain India's batting lineup despite spinner Sophie Ecclestone producing a determined effort. She claimed five wickets in the second innings but received little support as India's batters continued to score freely.
Chasing 457, England found themselves under constant pressure from India's disciplined bowling attack. The visitors maintained tight lines and regularly picked up wickets, never allowing England to build a meaningful partnership.
Kranti Gaud had already made a major impact in the first innings with outstanding figures of 5 for 37. In the second innings, experienced spinner Sneh Rana led the attack with four wickets for 42 runs, while Deepti Sharma and Kranti Gaud chipped in with important breakthroughs to keep England on the back foot.
Amy Jones fought hard for England with an unbeaten half-century, but she ran out of partners as wickets continued to fall around her. On the final morning, Sneh Rana dismissed the last batter to complete India's commanding victory and bring an end to England's resistance.
The historic triumph was witnessed by several prominent personalities, including ICC Chairman Jay Shah and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who congratulated the Indian team after the match.
India's comprehensive performance with both bat and ball showcased their growing strength in the longest format. Winning the first-ever women's Test at Lord's is a landmark achievement that will be remembered as one of the greatest moments in Indian women's cricket history.
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- With inputs from agencies
