India and England shared honors on the opening day of the historic first Women’s Lord’s Test, with the visitors posting 285 before reducing England’s deficit to 21-1 at stumps on Friday.After England captain Nat Seaver-Brent won the toss and elected to field, India seemed well-positioned to register a bigger total thanks to impressive half-centuries from Smriti Mandana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma. However, a late collapse ensured England regained control before the end of the game.The home side then negotiated 11 overs in the twilight but lost opener Tammy Beaumont cheaply to send the game into day two.
Mandala sets the tone
India got off to a shaky start after losing Shafali Verma and Yashtika Bhatia early on, but Smriti Mandana once again showed her class with a fluent innings of 83 off 108 balls. The left-hander was aggressive from the start, cutting through cover with grace and punishing any over-the-top delivery. She hit fours and sixes in 11 while cobbling together crucial partnerships to help India recover from an early setback.Jemima Rodriguez looked comfortable during her brief stay and added valuable ground for Mandana before giving up a promising start.
Harmanpreet and Deepti save India
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur then stabilized the innings with an important partnership of 89 runs along with Mandhana. While Mandhana played the attacker, Harmanpreet patiently steadied the innings with a patient 58 off 121 deliveries, ensuring India stayed on top throughout the afternoon.India’s win rate is 190/3 and looks set to cross the 350-run mark. But Mandana’s dismissal dramatically changed that momentum.England’s spin team, led by Sophie Ecclestone, made excellent use of the aging ball. Ecclestone finished with swerves and bounces to finish with figures of 3/68, while debutant Mady Villiers made an immediate impact to help India slip from a strong position.Deepti Sharma delivered a composed knock under pressure as wickets fell around her regularly. The veteran all-rounder struck a valuable 57 from 87 balls, hitting 7 boundaries and leading India to a competitive 285 before becoming the last batsman to fall in the 75th over.
England suffered an early defeat
England had just 11 overs to negotiate before the match and suffered an early setback when Kranti Gaud dismissed Tammy Beaumont for just 2 overs. Maia Bouchier looked confident on her 17-run unbeaten run, while captain Heather Knight ended the tournament on January 21 with a one-match unbeaten trail of 264 runs behind India.
Brief score:
India: 285 all out in 74.5 overs (Smriti Mandhana 83, Harmanpreet Kaur 58, Deepti Sharma 57; Sophie Ecclestone 3/68, Issy Wong 2/41)England: 21/1 in 11 overs (Maia Bouchier 17*, Heather Knight 1*; Kranti Gaud 1/8)
