India defeat England in first-ever women's test at Lord's.
Women Cricket
India defeated England in the first-ever women's test cricket held at Lord's courtesy of key contributions from Kranti Gaud, Yastika Bhati, and Smriti Mandhana.
India's tour to England met a joyous conclusion as they won the first-ever women's Test match at Lord's. A month ago, before the T20 World Cup, England won the T20 series 2-1. The one-off Test at Lord's was the 17th meeting between the two sides in Test cricket. After the victory, India now lead England 3-1 in women's tests.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">India vs England<br>Women's Test Cricket<br><br>✈️ 1986: 0-0 (3)<br>🏠 1995-96: 1-0 (3) 🏴<br>✈️ 1999: 0-0 (1)<br>🏠 2001-02: 0-0 (1)<br>✈️ 2002: 0-0 (2)<br>🏠 2005-06: 0-0 (1)<br>✈️ 2006: 1-0 (2) 🇮🇳<br>✈️ 2014: 1-0 (1) 🇮🇳<br>✈️ 2021: 0-0 (1) <br>🏠 2023-24: 1-0 (1) 🇮🇳<br>✈️ 2026: 1-0 (1) 🇮🇳</p>— Dr Balraj | બલરાજ (@balrajshukla) <a href="https://x.com/balrajshukla/status/2076639672990928977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" async charset="utf-8"></script>India - First Innings
Nat-Sciver Brunt won the toss and chose to bowl first. It appeared to be a wise choice, as India found themselves 37-2 in 7 overs. What followed was a 64-run partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues. It was backed up by another 89-run stand between Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur. After Smriti's 83 and Harmanpreet's 58, Deepti Sharma struck 57. On the second day of the test match, India were all out for a total of 285 runs. Sophie Ecclestone was the best English bowler, picking up three wickets.
England - First Innings
It was a disastrous start for England as Kranti Gaud found form again after a forgetful World Cup campaign. In front of a record attendance of 15,243 for a women's test match, the right-arm pacer ran through the English top order, putting them in an uncomfortable position of 47-4 in under 18 overs. Skipper Nat-Sciver Brunt and wicket-keeper Amy Jones showed some resistance as they stitched up an 84-run partnership for the fifth wicket. However, Gaud, assisted by Sneh Rana and Sayali Satghare, made quick work of the English batters, bowling them out for 170. Kranti's five-wicket haul made her the first Indian to make it to the Lord's honor board.
India - Second Innings
India began the second innings with a healthy lead of 115 runs. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma put up an 88-run opening stand. Yet again, Mandhana fell short of a century, departing for 70. Yastika Bhatia, who had a stunning T20 International series, powered to a glorious 113, making her the eleventh Indian player to hit a century at Lord's. Richa Ghosh hit a characteristic half-century in only 52 balls, after which Harmanpreet declared the Indian innings. Sophie Ecclestone picked up a five-for to etch her name on the Lord's honor board, thus picking up eight wickets in the match. England were set a huge target of 457.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yastika Bhatia!!!!<br><br>Has had a stellar English tour for her.<br><br>T20 series: 54(40), 33(36), 32(18)<br><br>One-off Test: 12(17) & 100(145)*<br><br>Unfortunately couldn't show up in the <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/T20WorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20WorldCup</a> in England with the same form. <br><br>Nonetheless, a remarkable feat to get a Lord's 100.</p>— Dr Balraj | બલરાજ (@balrajshukla) <a href="https://x.com/balrajshukla/status/2076287674546335811?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" async charset="utf-8"></script>England - Second Innings
The chase began with half the English side in the pavilion at 59. Sayali Satghare and Kranti Gaud were yet again instrumental in inflicting early wickets. Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight received a guard of honor from the Indian side as they called it a day from International cricket. Amy Jones was yet again England's best batter in the middle order. She became only the second batter ever to register a half-century in both innings of a women's Test match while batting at No.6 or lower. A late resistance from Ecclestone took the match to a fourth day. It was Sneh Rana who provided the most significant breakthroughs in the second innings. She clean bowled Ecclestone on 50, marking the end of the English innings.
India registered a mammoth 270-run win. It was the fourth biggest win (by runs) in women's Test, and the second worst defeat for England (by runs). Kranti Gaud was adjudged the player of the match for picking seven wickets in the entire match. Exactly 24 years after Sourav Ganguly's men registered an epic win in the NatWest finals, the same venue and the same date have given Indians another reason to celebrate on July 13th.
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