India Women completed a memorable 270-run victory over England on the fourth day of the first-ever women’s Test match to be played at Lord’s, sealing one of the most significant wins in the team’s red-ball history.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s side dominated the contest from the second day onwards to register India’s maiden women’s Test victory at the Home of Cricket, in a match that also attracted a world-record attendance of 37,846 across the four days for a women’s Test. The landmark fixture produced three additions to the iconic Lord’s Honours Boards—Kranti Gaud for her first-innings five-wicket haul, Yastika Bhatia for becoming the first woman to score a Test century at the venue, and Sophie Ecclestone for her five-wicket haul in India’s second innings.
England resumed the final day on 130/6, still needing another 327 runs to chase down India’s imposing target of 457, with Amy Jones 52* and Sophie Ecclestone 1* at the crease. The overnight pair delayed India’s celebrations with a determined stand, adding valuable runs and forcing the visitors to remain patient on a slow Lord’s surface.
Jones, who had been England’s standout batter in the innings, added just two more runs before becoming Sneh Rana’s third wicket. The wicketkeeper’s fighting 54 off 80 balls, which included six boundaries, ended when she was caught by Shafali Verma, breaking a partnership that had offered England their longest resistance of the chase.
Ecclestone continued to frustrate the Indian attack with a spirited innings. Fresh from claiming a five-wicket haul with the ball a day earlier, the left-arm spinner brought up a well-made 50 off 66 deliveries, striking six boundaries to cap an outstanding all-round individual performance. She survived one lbw appeal after England successfully reviewed the decision and later escaped another.
However, Rana eventually cleaned her up to claim the final wicket, as England were bowled out for 186 in 62.5 overs. Lauren Filer remained unbeaten on 4, while Deepti Sharma removed Issy Wong (1) and Lauren Bell (0) in the closing stages of the innings.
Rana finished with impressive figures of 4/42 from 19.5 overs, leading India’s effort on the final day. Deepti returned 2/36, while Sayali Satghare followed up her incisive spell from the previous evening with figures of 2/24. Kranti Gaud added 2/54 in the second innings to cap a memorable Test, while Shree Charani bowled with discipline throughout, finishing with 0/25 from nine overs.
England’s chase had effectively unravelled late on Day 3 after India struck repeatedly with the new ball. Tammy Beaumont fell for a first-ball duck, Maia Bouchier managed 2(8), captain Nat Sciver-Brunt was dismissed for 11(25), and Heather Knight, playing the final international match of her distinguished career after announcing her retirement before the start of Day 3, scored 13(34). Alice Capsey contributed 21(35), but only Jones and Ecclestone offered sustained resistance as England fell well short of the target.
India had laid the foundation for victory over the opening three days. After England elected to field, India posted 285 in their first innings before bowling the hosts out for 170, courtesy of Kranti Gaud’s outstanding 5/37. Holding a lead of 115, India then batted England out of the game.
Yastika Bhatia struck a superb 113(158), her maiden international century and the first by a woman in a Test at Lord’s, while Smriti Mandhana made 70(130) and Richa Ghosh provided the finishing flourish with an unbeaten 50(52) as India declared on 341/7. England’s Sophie Ecclestone fought tirelessly, returning 5/118 to earn her own place on the Lord’s Honours Board.
Gaud, who finished with match figures of 7/91, was named Player of the Match for the performance that changed the course of the Test. As the first women’s Test ever staged at Lord’s came to a close, it delivered everything befitting the occasion—a record crowd, three Honours Board performances, and a comprehensive Indian victory that will stand as one of the defining moments in the country’s women’s Test history.
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