The first women's Test match at Lord's produced a historic result as Harmanpreet Kaur's India defeated England by 270 runs on the final morning, becoming the first team to register a women's Test victory at the Home of Cricket.
Over its 140-year history, Lord's has hosted some of cricket's most memorable moments. On Monday, India's women's team added another landmark achievement to that legacy. While this generation has already celebrated success on home soil and helped transform the women's game through the Women's Premier League, their triumph at Lord's now stands among the defining milestones in Indian women's cricket.
India required less than four overs on the final morning to claim the last wicket, completing four days of dominance over England. Having arrived in the United Kingdom two weeks before the match to acclimatise, the visitors looked comfortable throughout, handling the conditions, the occasion and the famous Lord's slope with remarkable confidence.
As Harmanpreet Kaur's side celebrated the historic victory, International Cricket Council chairman Jay Shah and former India captain Sachin Tendulkar applauded the team from the stands. Tendulkar later came onto the field to congratulate the players after Sneh Rana dismissed Sophie Ecclestone to seal the win.
INDIA MAINTAIN UNBEATEN TEST RECORD IN ENGLAND
With the victory, India extended their unbeaten record in women's Test cricket in England. They have now won three and drawn seven of their 10 Tests on English soil. It also marked India's fourth win in their last five women's Test matches.
The foundation for the comprehensive victory was laid during the opening two days through disciplined batting performances and an outstanding display by the pace attack.
After England elected to bowl first on a green-tinged surface, India posted 285 in their first innings. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana anchored the innings with a composed 83, striking 11 boundaries and a six. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed 58, while Deepti Sharma added a valuable 57 as India built partnerships that steadily frustrated the England bowlers.
KRANTI GAUD AND YASTIKA BHATIA STAR IN HISTORIC WIN
While Mandhana gave India a solid platform, it was young fast bowler Kranti Gaud who transformed the contest with a superb performance in England's first innings.
The 22-year-old pacer from Madhya Pradesh exploited the conditions brilliantly, claiming five wickets for 37 runs in 17 overs, including seven maidens. Her disciplined line and movement through the air dismantled England's batting order, bowling the hosts out for just 170 and handing India a commanding first-innings lead of 115 runs.
With the advantage firmly in their favour, India's batters extended their dominance in the second innings. Mandhana followed up her first-innings effort with a fluent 70, while Richa Ghosh struck an aggressive half-century from only 52 deliveries.
However, the standout innings belonged to wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia.
Bhatia became the first woman to score a Test century at Lord's, earning a place on the venue's famous Honours Board. Displaying patience and excellent shot selection, she compiled 113 from 158 deliveries, including 14 boundaries. Her century helped India reach 341 for seven before Harmanpreet Kaur declared at tea on Day 3, setting England a daunting target of 457. England spinner Sophie Ecclestone fought hard, finishing with figures of five for 118, but the target proved far beyond the hosts' reach.
Chasing 457, England struggled throughout their second innings against India's disciplined bowling attack. Sneh Rana led the effort with figures of three for 42, while Kranti Gaud and Deepti Sharma claimed two wickets each to prevent England from building meaningful partnerships.
Amy Jones offered the only significant resistance with an unbeaten 54 on Sunday evening, but lacked support from the other end. Resuming play on the final morning needing just one more wicket, India completed the historic victory within 15 minutes as Sneh Rana induced an edge from Lauren Filer, sealing a comprehensive 270-run triumph and sparking celebrations both on the field and from the Lord's balcony.
