Sneh Rana's 4-42 powers India to historic 270-run win in first Women's Test at Lord's
Synopsis
Lord's hosted its first Women's Test in 142 years — and India made sure history remembered them. Sneh Rana's four-wicket demolition, Yastika Bhatia's ground-breaking century, and a 270-run margin of victory signal that this Indian side is rewriting the record books in red-ball cricket.
Key Takeaways
India beat England by 270 runs in the first-ever Women's Test at Lord's on 13 July .
Sneh Rana took 4 for 42 and Deepti Sharma took 2 for 36 to bowl England out for 186 chasing 457 .
Yastika Bhatia's 113 was the first century by a women's Test batter at Lord's in the ground's 142-year history of Test cricket.
Smriti Mandhana scored 83 and 70 across both innings; Richa Ghosh hit an unbeaten 50 off 52 balls .
India have now won 7 of their last 11 Women's Tests and remain unbeaten in Tests on English soil.
Sachin Tendulkar , ICC Chairman Jay Shah , and senior BCCI officials were present at Lord's for the historic occasion.
Off-spinner Sneh Rana claimed a decisive 4 for 42 as India dismantled England for 186 in 62.5 overs to seal a commanding 270-run victory in the first-ever Women's Test match at Lord's Cricket Ground on Monday, 13 July. Chasing a world-record target of 457 runs, England were systematically undone by Indian spin in the opening session of day four, handing India one of the most historic wins in women's cricket.
Final Day Drama at Lord's
England resumed their second innings on day four at 130 for 6, with overnight half-centurion Amy Jones carrying their slender hopes. Those hopes evaporated in the third over of the morning when Rana drew Jones (54) into an ill-judged pull that flew straight to Shafali Verma at mid-wicket.
Issy Wong and Sophie Ecclestone frustrated the Indian attack for nearly 10 overs without adding to the score, before Deepti Sharma (2-36) produced a delivery that drifted in and clipped Issy's off-stump. Lauren Bell offered brief company to Ecclestone, but Deepti's flighted, sharply spinning ball crashed into the top of the off-stump to reduce England to 159 for 9.
Ecclestone, displaying admirable rearguard spirit, drove Deepti for a single in the 62nd over to bring up a maiden Test half-century off 61 balls — greeted with warm applause from the Lord's crowd. Rana ended proceedings with a delivery of the highest quality: tossed up outside off with dip, it sneaked through Ecclestone's forward defence and knocked the stumps over.
India's Heroes of a Historic Victory
The win was built across all four days and across the entire squad. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana anchored both innings with 83 and 70, while Yastika Bhatia batted England out of the contest with a stunning 113 — the first century by any women's Test batter at Lord's in the ground's 142-year history of hosting Test cricket.
Richa Ghosh contributed an unbeaten 50 off 52 balls to accelerate India's declaration at 341 for 7 in 86.3 overs, setting England their improbable target. Kranti Gaud claimed the first wicket-haul by a bowler at Lord's in Women's Tests, while Rana and Deepti shared seven wickets across England's second innings to wrap up the match.
The Magnitude of This Win
This victory extends India's remarkable run in red-ball cricket: they have now won seven of their last 11 Test matches. Crucially, India's unbeaten record in Women's Test cricket on English soil remains intact. It took 142 years for Lord's to host a Women's Test, and Harmanpreet Kaur's side ensured the occasion was marked with a performance of comprehensive dominance across batting, bowling, and fielding.
Watching from the stands were legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar — who delivered a pre-play pep talk to the Indian team — along with ICC Chairman Jay Shah, BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla, and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia.
Scorecard Summary
India posted 285 in their first innings and declared their second at 341 for 7 in 86.3 overs (Yastika Bhatia 113; Sophie Ecclestone 5 for 118). England were bowled out for 170 and 186 in 62.5 overs (Amy Jones 54, Sophie Ecclestone 50; Sneh Rana 4 for 42, Sayali Satghare 2 for 24).
What Comes Next
The one-off Test result cements India's standing as the dominant force in women's red-ball cricket. Attention will now turn to the remainder of the tour, with the performance at Lord's likely to intensify calls for more Women's Test matches to be scheduled across international cricket's future calendar.
Point of View
And India's commanding 270-run win makes it impossible for administrators to argue the format lacks audience or merit. Yastika Bhatia's century — the first by any woman at the Home of Cricket — and Sneh Rana's match-winning spell are the kind of moments that build the case for a fuller Women's Test calendar. The BCCI and ICC's presence in the stands is noted, but what women's cricket actually needs is fixtures on the schedule, not dignitaries in the pavilion.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the first Women's Test at Lord's?
India beat England by 270 runs in the first-ever Women's Test match at Lord's on 13 July. England, chasing a world-record 457, were bowled out for 186 in 62.5 overs.
Who were India's top performers in the Lord's Women's Test?
Sneh Rana took 4 for 42 and Deepti Sharma took 2 for 36 to dismiss England in their second innings. With the bat, Yastika Bhatia scored 113 — the first century by a women's Test batter at Lord's — while Smriti Mandhana contributed 83 and 70 across both innings.
Why is this win historically significant?
It was the first Women's Test ever played at Lord's, a ground that has hosted men's Test cricket for 142 years. India's victory also extended their unbeaten run in Women's Tests on English soil and gave them seven wins in their last 11 red-ball matches.
What was Sophie Ecclestone's performance in the match?
Sophie Ecclestone was England's standout performer on both sides of the contest. She took 5 for 118 in India's second innings and scored a defiant 50 in England's second innings — her maiden Test half-century — before being bowled by Sneh Rana to end the match.
Who was present at Lord's for the historic Women's Test?
Among the notable attendees were batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, who gave the Indian team a pre-play pep talk on the final morning, ICC Chairman Jay Shah, BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla, and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia.
