India beat England by 270 runs in first women’s Test at Lord’s
India bowled England out for 186 on the final morning to win the one-off women’s Test at Lord’s by 270 runs, AFP reported.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
3 min read
India defeated England by 270 runs on Monday in the first women’s Test staged at Lord’s, a result AFP reported as a landmark win at the London ground. England, chasing 457, were bowled out for 186 shortly before lunch on the fourth and final day.
Spinners Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma took the last four wickets between them to close out the one-off match. Rana finished with 4-42 after dismissing Amy Jones for 54 and then bowling Sophie Ecclestone for 50 to end the contest, according to AFP.
Sharma removed Issy Wong and Lauren Bell as England’s innings fell away in front of a crowd that AFP said included former India men’s great Sachin Tendulkar. India’s players then celebrated a win that gave them a happier finish to a Lord’s visit that had earlier included elimination from the T20 World Cup group stage by eventual champion Australia.
Gaud and Bhatia make Lord’s history
AFP reported that the match also produced individual firsts for Kranti Gaud and Yastika Bhatia. Gaud became the first woman to take a five-wicket haul in a Test at Lord’s, while Bhatia became the first woman to score a Test century at the ground.
Gaud took 5-37 as England were dismissed for 170 in their first innings. She later added 2-54 in the second innings and was named player of the match, AFP reported.
Bhatia’s 113, her first hundred in international cricket in any format, anchored India’s second-innings 341-7 declared. India captain Harmanpreet Kaur also praised the top order after opener Smriti Mandhana made half-centuries in both innings.
At the presentation ceremony, Kaur said India’s batting had been “outstanding to watch” and singled out Bhatia. “I had a really strong feeling for her — that’s why we put her in the 11 — and I’m really happy with the way she played,” Kaur said, according to AFP.
Gaud said she had wanted to earn a place on the Lord’s honours board once the match began. “My strength is to hit the right length and the ball moved and did its bit,” she said, according to AFP.
England’s difficult Test run continues
England entered the final day on 130-6, with Jones unbeaten on 52. AFP reported that any realistic hope for England rested on Jones, but she added only two runs before pulling Rana to mid-wicket.
The target was far beyond anything previously chased in women’s Test cricket. AFP reported that the highest successful fourth-innings chase in the format remains Australia’s 198 against England in Sydney in 2011.
The defeat was England’s second-largest in women’s Tests by runs and their fourth loss in five Tests, according to AFP. It also left England without a home women’s Test victory since 2005.
The match came days after England lost the T20 World Cup final to Australia at Lord’s on July 5. England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt said the short turnaround between formats was a challenge, but added that players had to recover and prepare as well as they could, AFP reported.
England coach Charlotte Edwards told Sky Sports she was disappointed with the performance and credited India. Edwards said India were “exceptional” and “really disciplined with bat and ball,” according to AFP.
The match also marked the final international appearances of England batters Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight, the former captain, before retirement. AFP reported that the four-day attendance of 37,846 set a new record for a women’s Test, even though Monday’s crowd was sparse.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.