Harmanpreet Kaur falls to Mady Villiers as England claw back; India 202/5 at tea
Synopsis
Debutant Mady Villiers bowled Harmanpreet Kaur through the gate on the last ball of the afternoon session at Lord's, turning what looked like a steady India innings into a nervy one. Smriti Mandhana's elegant 83 — ended 17 short of a historic ton by Issy Wong — and Harmanpreet's gritty 58 through physical discomfort tell the real story of a hard-fought opening day.
Key Takeaways
India are 202/5 in 51.2 overs at tea on Day 1 of the one-off Women's Test at Lord's , 10 July .
Smriti Mandhana scored 83 before being caught behind off Issy Wong , falling 17 short of a Test century.
Harmanpreet Kaur made 58 off 99 balls despite battling hand and hamstring discomfort, before being bowled by debutant Mady Villiers .
The Smriti–Harmanpreet partnership was worth 79 runs off 155 balls .
Issy Wong finished with 2/41 ; Mady Villiers took 1/22 on Test debut.
England burned two unsuccessful DRS reviews in the afternoon session.
India reached 202/5 in 51.2 overs at tea on the first day of the one-off Women's Test at Lord's on 10 July, with debutant off-spinner Mady Villiers delivering the decisive blow of the afternoon session — dismissing India captain Harmanpreet Kaur on the final ball before the break to hand England a significant momentum shift.
First Session: India Dominate
The opening session belonged largely to India, who built a solid platform and reached 122/3 in 25 overs at the lunch interval. Smriti Mandhana was the standout performer, moving fluently and using her feet well against premier left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone, while also executing crisp pulls off the pace bowlers.
England Fight Back After Lunch
England's bowlers returned with renewed discipline in the post-lunch session, targeting the set batters. Smriti and Harmanpreet resumed together and extended their partnership past the 150-run mark, frustrating the hosts. Harmanpreet, battling through physical discomfort — requiring repeated attention from the team physio for issues with her hand and hamstring — reached her second Test half-century off 99 balls with a drive off Villiers.
The breakthrough came through fast bowler Issy Wong, who induced a faint outside edge from Smriti. She was caught behind by a diving Amy Jones — standing up to the stumps — for 83, falling 17 runs short of a historic century. The partnership was worth 79 runs off 155 balls.
Villiers Delivers the Defining Blow
Just as the session appeared to be closing out on even terms, Mady Villiers — playing her debut Test — tossed one up invitingly outside off stump. Harmanpreet was lured into an expansive drive, only for the ball to turn sharply through the gate and castle the stumps. The dismissal, on the last delivery of the afternoon session, gave England a lift heading into the tea interval. Harmanpreet departed for 58.
England also burned two unsuccessful reviews during the session — one for a caught-behind off Smriti and another against Deepti Sharma, who was unbeaten on 5 at the break.
Scorecard Snapshot
India 202/5 in 51.2 overs: Smriti Mandhana 83, Harmanpreet Kaur 58; Issy Wong 2/41, Mady Villiers 1/22. The remaining two sessions on Day 1 will be critical in determining whether India can push towards a commanding first-innings total at the home of cricket.
Point of View
But the inability to convert Smriti's near-century into a full one, and Harmanpreet's dismissal through the gate after surviving physical adversity, hands England a psychological edge heading into the final two sessions. The real question is whether India's lower order can bat England out of the game, or whether the hosts' discipline — and Villiers' turn — will continue to probe.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the score at tea on Day 1 of the India vs England Women's Test at Lord's?
India are 202/5 in 51.2 overs at tea on the first day of the one-off Women's Test at Lord's on 10 July. Deepti Sharma was unbeaten on 5 at the break.
How was Harmanpreet Kaur dismissed?
Harmanpreet Kaur was bowled by debutant off-spinner Mady Villiers for 58 on the final delivery of the afternoon session. Villiers tossed the ball up outside off stump, luring the India captain into a drive before it turned sharply through the gate.
How did Smriti Mandhana get out?
Smriti Mandhana was caught behind by wicketkeeper Amy Jones off the bowling of fast bowler Issy Wong for 83, falling 17 runs short of what would have been a historic Test century. Jones took a diving catch standing up to the stumps.
Who is Mady Villiers and why is her wicket significant?
Mady Villiers is an England off-spinner playing her debut Test match. Her dismissal of India captain Harmanpreet Kaur — on the last ball of the afternoon session — was a defining moment that shifted momentum back to England after India had largely controlled the first session.
How did England's bowling perform in the afternoon session?
England's bowlers showed strong discipline after lunch, with Issy Wong (2/41) and Mady Villiers (1/22) picking up the crucial wickets of set batters Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur. England also used two DRS reviews, both unsuccessfully.
