Indian women’s cricket added another unforgettable chapter to its journey on Sunday, defeating England by 270 runs in the first-ever women’s Test at Lord’s. It was a victory built on contributions across departments, with Yastika Bhatia’s maiden Test century, Kranti Gaud’s five-wicket haul and Smriti Mandhana’s twin fifties powering India to a historic triumph at the Home of Cricket.
The victory also made India the first team to win a women’s Test at Lord’s, ensuring the inaugural match at the iconic venue will always be associated with Harmanpreet Kaur’s Indian side.
Yastika Bhatia’s century headlines India’s batting effort
If there was one innings that defined India’s dominance, it was Yastika Bhatia’s second-innings century.
Batting at No. 3, the left-hander produced a composed 113, bringing up her maiden Test hundred and becoming the first woman to score a Test century at Lord’s. The innings also earned her a place on the famous Lord’s Honours Board. Yastika’s knock ensured India turned a healthy first-innings lead into an imposing advantage, putting England under sustained pressure.
Mandhana delivers in both innings
Smriti Mandhana once again underlined why she remains one of India’s most dependable batters in the longest format. After top-scoring with 83 in the first innings, she followed it up with another fluent 70-plus score in the second, becoming the driving force behind India’s batting across both innings.
Her consistency at the top gave India strong starts each time they batted and laid the platform for the middle order to capitalise.
Kranti Gaud’s breakthrough performance
In the first innings, Kranti Gaud produced the spell that swung the contest firmly in India’s favour: 5/37 (17 overs)
The young fast bowler claimed five wickets in England’s first innings, dismantling the hosts’ batting line-up and helping India secure a crucial first-innings lead.
Her performance also earned her a place on the Lord’s Honours Board, making her one of the standout performers in a match that will be remembered for generations.
A complete team performance
India’s victory was a collective effort. The batters laid the foundation, the bowlers seized control and the fielders backed them up throughout the four days. Every session seemed to produce another decisive contribution, preventing England from mounting a sustained comeback.
By the time England began chasing 457, India had already dictated almost every phase of the match.
Sophie Ecclestone offered late resistance with a determined half-century, extending England’s innings and frustrating India’s bowlers for a while. However, the visitors eventually claimed the final wicket to seal a historic 270-run victory in the first-ever women’s Test at Lord’s.
A landmark beyond the result
The significance of the victory extends beyond the margin.
Lord’s had hosted 150 men’s Tests before finally staging its first women’s Test in 2026. India not only became part of that historic occasion but also ensured they would be remembered as the first winners at the venue in women’s Test cricket.
It also continued India’s recent dominance over England in the format.
A new chapter at Lord’s
For decades, Lord’s represented one of the few missing milestones in women’s cricket.
This week, that chapter finally began. And when the history of the first women’s Test at Lord’s is told, it will be remembered for India’s commanding performance, Yastika Bhatia’s history-making century, Kranti Gaud’s five-wicket haul, Smriti Mandhana’s twin fifties and a team that made sure the occasion ended with a victory worthy of the moment.
