IND-W vs ENG-W, One-off Test: India women’s cricket team have wrapped up a commanding 270-run victory over England in the historic one-off Test at the scenic venue of the Lord’s Cricket Ground. The Indian team had taken the field on the final day or Day 4 having the match in their pocket as England were six down with only 130 runs on the board. While Yastika Bhatia and Kranti Gaud arguably set up the victory with starring roles, Sneh Rana took four wickets in England’s second innings to skittle them for 186.
IND-W vs ENG-W, One-off Test: Kranti Gaud takes historic fifer to give India a sizeable lead
With Smriti Mandhana (83), Deepti Sharma (57) and Harmanpreet Kaur (58) scoring half-centuries, India amassed a competitive total of 285. They did look for a 300+ score but the innings tapered off towards the end and finished at 285. With England ending day 1 at 21/1 after Kranti Gaud getting the outgoing Tammy Beaumont, she returned the next day creating further havoc. After slipping to 47/4 at one stage, the hosts dug in as Amy Jones and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt restored some semblance of control. Rana broke the partnership of 84 by dismissing Jones for 52, while Gaud trapped Nat Sciver-Brunt lbw for 44. Lauren Bell proved to be the 22-year-old’s fifth wicket of the innings as England’s innings ended at 170.
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IND-W vs ENG-W, One-off Test: Yastika Bhatia joins Kranti Gaud on the honours board
With Gaud already getting her name up on the honours board, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Varma gave India a solid start, raising an 88-run opening stand only in 20,4 overs. Bhatia, who came in at No.3, became the first Indian women’s cricketer to rack up a century at Lord’s, hitting 113 off 158 deliveries with 14 boundaries. Richa Ghosh also hit a brisk half-century, making 50 off only 52 balls, laced with eight fours to swell the lead to an improbable 466.
England were already buried under the sheer weight of runs, succumbing to 130/6 by the end of Day 3, with a losing farewell to Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight looming. Amy Jones (54) and Sophie Ecclestone (50) resisted in the best way they could but it only delayed the inevitable.
