Indian women win historic Lord's Test by 270 runs, first team to do so
Synopsis
India's women didn't just win at Lord's — they made history as the first women's team ever to do so. A 270-run demolition of England, built on Yastika Bhatia's maiden Lord's century, Kranti Gaud's record five-wicket haul, and Sneh Rana's match-winning spell, signals that this Indian side is redefining what women's red-ball cricket looks like.
Key Takeaways
The Indian women's cricket team beat England by 270 runs at Lord's Cricket Ground on 13 July .
India became the first women's team in history to win a Test match at Lord's.
Sneh Rana took 4 for 42 and Deepti Sharma took 2 for 36 to bowl England out for 186 chasing 457 .
Yastika Bhatia scored 113 — the first century by a woman in a Test at Lord's.
Kranti Gaud took the first five-wicket haul by a woman in a Test at the venue.
The win is India's seventh victory in their last 11 women's Tests, maintaining an unbeaten red-ball record on English soil.
The Indian women's cricket team scripted history on 13 July by becoming the first women's side to win a Test match at Lord's Cricket Ground, defeating England by a commanding 270 runs in the one-off Test. The victory, achieved on the fourth day, adds a landmark chapter to Indian women's cricket and extends the team's unbeaten record in red-ball cricket on English soil.
How India Sealed the Win
Chasing a mammoth target of 457, England were bowled out for 186 in their second innings, with their resistance crumbling during the opening session of Day 4. Off-spinner Sneh Rana was the wrecker-in-chief, finishing with figures of 4 for 42, while Deepti Sharma contributed 2 for 36. England had resumed on 130 for 6, with overnight half-centurion Amy Jones their last realistic hope — but Sneh dismissed her for 54. Deepti then removed Issy Wong and Lauren Bell, before Sneh bowled Sophie Ecclestone — who had earlier made her maiden Test fifty — through the gate to end the match.
Standout Performances Across Four Days
The victory was built on exceptional contributions throughout the match. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana scored 83 and 70 across both innings. Yastika Bhatia struck a remarkable 113 — the first century by a woman in a Test at Lord's — while Richa Ghosh smashed an unbeaten 50 off just 52 balls. With the ball, Kranti Gaud registered the first five-wicket haul by a woman in a Test at the historic venue, adding another record to an already record-laden performance.
What the Sports Minister Said
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated the team in a social media post following the historic result. 'History at Lord's! Congratulations to our Women's Cricket Team on becoming the first-ever women's team to win a Test match at the iconic venue. A commanding 270-run victory over England makes this achievement even more special,' he wrote. The post was shared across multiple social media platforms.
Tributes and Wider Significance
Tributes poured in from across the cricketing world. Former England captain Michael Vaughan praised India's all-round performance, while National Cricket Academy head VVS Laxman highlighted the significance of conquering Lord's. This win is India's seventh victory in their last 11 women's Tests, underlining a sustained rise in red-ball dominance. Notably, this was the first-ever women's Test staged at Lord's, making the result all the more historic — India did not merely win, they wrote the opening line of that record.
What Comes Next
The result is expected to intensify calls for more women's Test cricket, a format that remains rare on the international calendar. India's depth across batting and bowling — demonstrated emphatically over four days at the home of cricket — will strengthen the Board of Control for Cricket in India's hand in negotiating future bilateral red-ball fixtures.
Point of View
And an Indian women's team winning the first-ever women's Test there reframes the narrative around the format's future. The depth on display — three batting records, a bowling landmark, and a 270-run margin — makes it harder for administrators to keep women's Test cricket on the margins of the calendar. The real question now is whether the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the England and Wales Cricket Board will use this moment to commit to a regular red-ball series, or let it remain a one-off monument to what could have been.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did India win the women's Test at Lord's?
Yes. India beat England by 270 runs in the one-off women's Test at Lord's Cricket Ground on 13 July, becoming the first women's team in history to win a Test match at the venue.
Who were the top performers for India at Lord's?
Yastika Bhatia scored 113 — the first century by a woman in a Test at Lord's. Smriti Mandhana contributed 83 and 70, Richa Ghosh hit an unbeaten 50 off 52 balls, Kranti Gaud took the first women's five-wicket haul at the ground, and Sneh Rana claimed 4 for 42 in the second innings.
What was the target England were set in the second innings?
England were set a target of 457 to win. They were bowled out for 186, falling short by 270 runs.
What record does this win extend for India in England?
The victory maintained India's unbeaten record in women's red-ball cricket on English soil and gave the team their seventh win in their last 11 women's Tests across all venues.
What did Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya say about the win?
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya posted on social media calling it 'History at Lord's' and congratulated the team on becoming the first women's side to win a Test at the iconic venue, adding that the 270-run margin over a strong England side made the achievement even more special.
