LONDON — India defeated England by 270 runs on July 13 as the historic first women’s Test at Lord’s concluded with the hosts all out for 186 while chasing 457.
Opener Smriti Mandhana top-scored for India with 83 in a first-innings 285, supported by captain Harmanpreet Kaur (58) and Deepti Sharma (57). Sophie Ecclestone took three late wickets to finish with 3-68, becoming England’s leading wicket-taker in women’s cricket with 338 career wickets.
England replied with 170 in their first innings, with India’s 22-year-old medium-pacer Kranti Gaud taking 5-37 to become the first woman to earn a place on the Lord’s honours board for a five-wicket haul. Yastika Bhatia then made a vital century for India in the second innings, while Ecclestone claimed a second five-for (5-118). India declared at 341-7 on day three, setting England an imposing 457 to win.
Under the target, England’s top order collapsed to 34-4 after early strikes by Gaud. Mady Villiers offered some resistance, and Amy Jones scored 54, while Ecclestone scored her maiden Test fifty. Sneh Rana (4-42) helped seal England’s dismissal on the fourth day and India’s emphatic victory at cricket’s most storied ground.