Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave India an untroubled start to their second innings, reaching 30 for no loss at tea on Day 2 of the one-off women's Test at Lord's on 11 July, extending the visitors' overall lead to 145 runs. The platform was built on Kranti Gaud's magnificent 5 for 37, which had earlier skittled England for 170 and handed India a commanding 115-run first-innings advantage.

Gaud's Five-Wicket Haul Sets the Stage

India dismissed England in 59.1 overs shortly after lunch, with Kranti Gaud the standout performer, claiming 5 for 37 to wreck the home batting order. Sayali Satghare chipped in with 2 for 40, Sneh Rana took 2 for 41, and Deepti Sharma added 1 for 10 to complete the job. For England, Amy Jones top-scored with 52 and Nat Sciver-Brunt contributed 44, but the pair could not prevent a first-innings deficit of 115 against India's 285.

England's Pace Attack Tests Both Openers

Faced with negotiating a potentially awkward new-ball spell before tea, India's openers showed admirable composure. Lauren Bell and Lauren Filer bowled with noticeably sharper discipline than in the first innings, setting a field of two slips and a gully and extracting movement off the surface. Bell drew Mandhana into a probing maiden over with repeated deliveries at the left-hander's off stump. Filer found seam and bounce, beating the bat on occasions, though a fumble by wicketkeeper Amy Jones gifted India their first run via byes.

Mandhana and Shafali Counter With Fluent Strokeplay

Neither opener was rattled. Mandhana bided her time before unleashing two authoritative pull shots off Filer, both dispatched to the square-leg boundary, to break the shackles and ease the pressure. Shafali Verma opened her account with a tuck behind square before a beautifully timed late drive through the covers off Bell signalled her intent. When Sophie Ecclestone — England's premier spinner — was introduced, Shafali took her on immediately, lofting her down the ground for four and following up with a crisp inside-out drive through extra cover. A wayward delivery down leg from Ecclestone also raced away for four byes, making it a 13-run over for the spinner.

India Firmly in Command Heading Into Final Session

India walked off at tea with Mandhana unbeaten on 10 and Shafali on 14, both looking increasingly settled on a pitch that continues to offer good batting conditions. The fluent partnership frustrated England's hopes of an early breakthrough after their batting collapse. With a lead of 145 and both openers in good touch, India are well placed to bat the hosts out of the contest in the final session and beyond.

Brief scores: India 285 & 30/0 (Smriti Mandhana 10*, Shafali Verma 14*) lead England 170 all out in 59.1 overs (Amy Jones 52, Nat Sciver-Brunt 44; Kranti Gaud 5/37, Sayali Satghare 2/40, Sneh Rana 2/41, Deepti Sharma 1/10) by 145 runs.