India women closed in on a historic victory at Lord’s on Day 3 of the inaugural Women’s Test. They declared their second innings at 341/7 to set a formidable 457-run target for England women before reducing the hosts to 130/6 at stumps with some smart bowling.
Yastika Bhatia registers a historic century
Starting the day with their overnight score of 154/1, India’s second innings was led by Yastika Bhatia. She etched her name into cricket history by becoming the first woman to score a Test century at Lord’s. India’s middle order displayed exceptional intent and converted their 115-run first-innings advantage into a commanding total. Yastika Bhatia anchored the morning session with supreme composure, finding gaps with ease and utilizing her sweep shot effectively against the English spinners.
Yastika’s fluent 113 off 158 balls, supported by Smriti Mandhana’s classy 70 and a rapid, unbeaten 50 from Richa Ghosh. Richa was also in her regular self as she smashed 8 boundaries in her 52-ball innings while reaching her third Test fifty in four matches. Despite Sophie Ecclestone’s tireless 5-wicket haul (5/118), India women called time on their innings midway through the afternoon, leaving England a record fourth-innings pursuit.
India women in full control at Lord’s against England
Chasing a mammoth fourth-innings target of 457, England’s second innings got off to a disastrous start. Indian seamers Kranti Gaud and Sayali Satghare exploited early movement off the pitch with the new ball, tearing through the hosts’ top order within the first five overs. Gaud struck first, trapping Tammy Beaumont for a duck off the pads, before Satghare produced an inswinger to trap Maia Bouchier lbw for just 2.
With England reeling at 6/2, off-spinner Sneh Rana was introduced early to demolish the hosts from the other end. Rana struck almost immediately, spinning one sharply into Nat Sciver-Brunt (11) to bowl the English skipper.
Playing her final international match after announcing her retirement, former captain Heather Knight stepped out to a standing ovation from the Lord’s crowd. However, her farewell knock ended on 13 when she was undone by the low bounce, leaving England in total disarray at 33/4.
Alice Capsey offered brief resistance with a counterattacking 21, before Satghare returned to shatter her stumps with stunning delivery. When Deepti Sharma joined the attack, England slumped to 59/5.
Amy Jones (52*) and Mady Villiers (26) added 67 runs together in the final hour. But Villiers became Rana’s second wicket thanks to a great catch from Ghosh. Despite their late resistance England ended Day 3 on 130/6, still trailing by 327 runs with only four wickets in hand, requiring a full day to survive.
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