India crush England by 270 runs in historic first women's Test at Lord's
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
India scripted history at Lord's Cricket Ground on Monday, 13 July, crushing England by 270 runs in the first-ever women's Test staged at the Home of Cricket in its 142-year history. Harmanpreet Kaur's side bowled England out for 186 while defending a target of 457, triggering a wave of tributes from across Indian cricket.
Key Performances That Made History
The victory was built on landmark individual displays. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana anchored both innings with scores of 83 and 70, providing the composure India needed at the top. Yastika Bhatia struck a commanding 113 — the first century by a woman in a Test match at Lord's — earning her name on the iconic Lord's Honours Board. Richa Ghosh added an unbeaten 50 off just 52 balls to push India's lead beyond reach.
With the ball, Kranti Gaud became the first woman to take a five-wicket haul in a Test at Lord's, while off-spinner Sneh Rana delivered figures of 4 for 42 on the final day. Deepti Sharma chipped in with 2 for 36, dismantling England's lower order in the opening session of Day 4.
How the Final Day Unfolded
England resumed on 130 for 6, with overnight half-centurion Amy Jones their last realistic hope. Rana removed her for 54 early in the morning session. Sharma then dismissed Issy Wong and Lauren Bell in quick succession, before Rana sealed the win by bowling Sophie Ecclestone — who had earlier made her maiden Test fifty — through the gate.
What the Cricket Fraternity Said
Tributes poured in from across the sport. Former India women's captain Mithali Raj called it 'a complete team performance to seal a legendary, historic Test win in England,' singling out Bhatia's 'sensational hundred' and Gaud's 'clinical five-wicket haul,' and praising Mandhana's 'exceptional composure across both innings.'
Former India Test captain Ajinkya Rahane posted on social media: 'What a special win! Congratulations to Harmanpreet Kaur and the entire team for making history at Lord's. A performance to remember.'
National Cricket Academy head VVS Laxman posted on X: 'A truly special win. Congratulations to the Indian Women's team on a memorable Test victory at Lord's. Your skill, resilience, and fighting spirit have made the whole nation proud. Keep it up @BCCI.'
Former England captain Michael Vaughan wrote on X: 'Fantastic win for India at Lord's in the historic test match. India completely dominated an England team that once again fell far short of where they should be. Two showcase moments for the women's game this past week. I enjoyed watching.'
All-rounder Irfan Pathan posted: 'Victory with a touch of class. Well done, Indian Women's team on the test match victory vs England. Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Yastika Bhatia, Richa Ghosh, Sneh Rana. You all were amazing. Well done, Captain Kaur.'
Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan said on X: 'Champions don't wait for history to happen. They create it. Congratulations to Team India Women on a memorable victory at Lord's. Yastika Bhatia's century, Smriti Mandhana's outstanding performance, and Kranti's brilliant bowling will be remembered for a long time. Proud moment for Indian cricket.'
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla also congratulated the side, while batting legend Sachin Tendulkar — who addressed the team before play began on the final day — watched the historic finish alongside ICC chairman Jay Shah and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia.
Where This Win Stands in Indian Women's Cricket
The result gave India their seventh win in their last 11 women's Tests and preserved their unbeaten record in red-ball cricket on English soil. Notably, this was the first time a women's Test had ever been played at Lord's in the ground's 142-year history — making every record broken here an all-time first. The two names added to the Lord's Honours Board, Bhatia and Gaud, will remain there permanently.
With women's Test cricket gaining momentum globally, India's dominance at the sport's most storied venue sends a clear signal about the direction of the game — and the team's ambitions in the format.