Smriti Mandhana produced a brilliant innings as India made history by playing the first ever women’s Test at Lord’s, the iconic Home of Cricket. Although the stylish opener narrowly missed a memorable century, her outstanding 83 runs guided India to a competitive 285 on the opening day against England.
After England won the toss and chose to bowl, India suffered an early setback when Shafali Verma was dismissed without scoring. Mandhana responded with confidence, playing elegant drives and attacking shots that kept the scoreboard moving. She built a valuable partnership with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who added a composed 58, helping India recover strongly after the early wicket.
The pair looked set to push India beyond 300, but the match changed after Mandhana edged Issy Wong behind the stumps while attempting another attacking stroke. Her dismissal triggered a batting collapse as India slipped from 190 for 3 to being bowled out for 285. England spinner Sophie Ecclestone claimed three wickets, while debutant Mady Villiers impressed by dismissing Kaur with a superb delivery before the tea break.
Deepti Sharma also made an important contribution with a well crafted half century, ensuring India posted a respectable total despite losing their final four wickets for just 11 runs.
England’s reply began poorly when veteran opener Tammy Beaumont, playing her final international match, was trapped leg before wicket by Kranti Gaud for only two runs. At stumps, England were 21 for 1, leaving India in a strong position after the opening day’s play.
The match also marked a significant milestone in the growth of women’s cricket. It came 50 years after the first major women’s match at Lord’s and represented the venue’s first women’s Test. Players from the historic 1976 fixture rang the traditional bell before the start, highlighting how far the women’s game has progressed.
Mandhana also reached another remarkable achievement by becoming the youngest woman to play 300 international matches across all formats. Her memorable performance and India’s strong start made the opening day one of the most significant moments in the history of women’s cricket.
