India crush England by 270 runs in historic first women's Test at Lord's

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India crush England by 270 runs in historic first women's Test at Lord's

Synopsis

India didn't just win a cricket match at Lord's — they made history that will outlast the scoreline. The first women's Test ever played at the 142-year-old ground ended with two names on the Honours Board, a 270-run demolition of England, and a clear statement that Indian women's red-ball cricket has arrived at the sport's most iconic address.

Key Takeaways

India beat England by 270 runs on 13 July in the first-ever women's Test at Lord's in its 142-year history .
Yastika Bhatia scored 113 — the first century by a woman in a Test at Lord's — earning a place on the Lord's Honours Board .
Kranti Gaud claimed the first five-wicket haul by a woman in a Test at Lord's; Sneh Rana took 4 for 42 on the final day.
Smriti Mandhana contributed 83 and 70 across both innings; Richa Ghosh hit an unbeaten 50 off 52 balls .
The win is India's seventh in their last 11 women's Tests and keeps their unbeaten record in red-ball cricket in England intact.
Tributes came from Mithali Raj , Ajinkya Rahane , Irfan Pathan , VVS Laxman , Michael Vaughan , and Shikhar Dhawan , among others.

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.

Point of View

And India didn't just participate — they dominated, set records, and put two names on the Honours Board in a single game. The tributes from Vaughan and Laxman in the same breath are telling: this win crossed the gender divide in cricket's consciousness. The harder question is whether the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will now schedule more women's Tests rather than treating them as one-off spectacles — because a team this good deserves a fuller red-ball calendar, not just landmark moments.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What made India's win at Lord's historic?
It was the first women's Test match ever played at Lord's Cricket Ground in its 142-year history, and India won it by 270 runs. The match also produced the first century and first five-wicket haul by women in a Test at the venue, with Yastika Bhatia and Kranti Gaud both earning places on the Lord's Honours Board.
Who were the standout performers for India?
Yastika Bhatia top-scored with 113, the first hundred by a woman in a Test at Lord's. Kranti Gaud took five wickets — another first at the ground. Smriti Mandhana scored 83 and 70 across both innings, while Sneh Rana claimed 4 for 42 on the final day to seal the win.
How did India dismiss England on the final day?
England resumed on 130 for 6, needing 327 more runs with four wickets in hand. Sneh Rana removed overnight batter Amy Jones for 54, Deepti Sharma dismissed Issy Wong and Lauren Bell, and Rana wrapped up the innings by bowling Sophie Ecclestone through the gate.
What does this result mean for India's women's Test record?
The win gave India their seventh victory in their last 11 women's Tests and extended their unbeaten record in red-ball cricket on English soil. It also reinforced India's standing as the dominant force in women's Test cricket currently.
Who attended the match and congratulated the team?
Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar addressed the team before the final day's play and watched the finish alongside ICC chairman Jay Shah, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla, and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia. Tributes also came from Mithali Raj, Ajinkya Rahane, Irfan Pathan, VVS Laxman, Michael Vaughan, and Shikhar Dhawan.
Nation Press
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