India Women moved to the brink of a historic, maiden Test victory at Lord’s on Sunday after Yastika Bhatia became the first woman to score a Test century at the historic venue, leaving England needing 327 more runs with just four wickets in hand.
Bhatia smashed 113 off 158 balls as India declared their second innings at 341 for seven at the stroke of tea on day three, setting England a daunting target of 457. Although Sophie Ecclestone claimed her fourth five-wicket haul in Women's Tests, England's batting lineup collapsed, finishing at 130 for six at stumps.
Earlier in the day, Lauren Bell struck early for England, removing Smriti Mandhana for 70 and Jemimah Rodrigues for 3. Harmanpreet Kaur managed 16 off 34 balls before Ecclestone trapped her lbw. Despite the breakthroughs, India reached 250 for four at lunch, with Bhatia batting alongside Deepti Sharma at the break.
Yastika Bhatia Lord's Century Rewrites History Books
Bhatia, who resumed on her overnight score of 39, reached her half-century with a crisp straight drive down the ground off Bell. She maintained immense pressure on the English bowlers with a composed, mature knock. Her brilliant innings also secured the record for the highest score by an Indian woman in the third or fourth innings of a Test match.
Richa Ghosh provided late impetus to the innings with a fiery, unbeaten 50 off 52 balls just before the declaration.
England’s chase began disastrously. Indian debutant Kranti Gaud struck with her very first ball in international cricket to dismiss Tammy Beaumont, effectively ending the veteran's international career. Sayali Satghare then trapped Maia Bouchier lbw soon after.
Heather Knight, playing her final Test match before retirement, was caught at short leg by Richa Ghosh off Gaud's bowling for 13. While Amy Jones (52 off 72) and Mady Villiers (26 off 63) delayed the inevitable with a gritty 67-run partnership for the sixth wicket, the stand was broken when Villiers popped up a catch to Richa Ghosh at silly point off the bowling of Sneh Rana.
