India vs England Women's Test at Lord's: Smriti's 83 sets up tense Day 1
Synopsis
The first-ever Women's Test at Lord's delivered a gripping Day 1: Smriti Mandhana's historic 83 — the first Women's Test fifty at the ground — and a spirited Deepti Sharma cameo kept India competitive, but a seven-wicket collapse for 95 runs handed England a sniff. Sophie Ecclestone's three-for made her England's all-time leading wicket-taker across formats, and spin already looks threatening heading into Day 2.
Key Takeaways
India were bowled out for 285 in the first-ever Women's Test at Lord's on 10 July .
Smriti Mandhana top-scored with 83 off 83 balls — the first Women's Test fifty at Lord's — in her 300th international appearance .
Harmanpreet Kaur made 58 and Deepti Sharma scored a gritty 57 off 87 balls .
India collapsed from 190/3 to 285 all out , losing their last 7 wickets for 95 runs .
Sophie Ecclestone (3-68) became England's all-time leading wicket-taker across all formats.
England closed Day 1 at 21/1 , trailing by 264 runs , with Tammy Beaumont falling for 2 in her farewell international.
Smriti Mandhana's sparkling 83 — the first Women's Test fifty at Lord's — and half-centuries from Harmanpreet Kaur (58) and Deepti Sharma (57) powered India to 285 all out in the first-ever Women's Test at the iconic venue on 10 July, before England closed Day 1 at 21/1, trailing by 264 runs. A stunning collapse of seven wickets for 95 runs in the final session denied India a total closer to 300, handing England's spinners a foothold heading into Day 2.
India's Innings: Mandhana Shines, Collapse Undoes Good Work
England opted to bowl first and found early reward through Lauren Filer, who squared up opener Shafali Verma with a sharp short-of-length delivery in the second over — Shafali nicking behind to wicketkeeper Amy Jones for a duck. Yastika Bhatia (12) fell soon after, cleaned up by a brilliant Lauren Bell inswinger that clipped the off-stump.
Mandhana, playing her 300th international appearance, then anchored the innings with authority. She brought up a run-a-ball half-century off just 50 deliveries in the 16th over — the first Women's Test fifty ever scored at Lord's — and punished wayward English bowling with authority, including a towering slog-sweep six over midwicket off Sophie Ecclestone. A 64-run third-wicket stand with Jemimah Rodrigues (35) was broken when Jemimah chopped onto her stumps off Issy Wong.
Harmanpreet joined Mandhana and the two added a crucial 79 runs off 155 balls, with the India captain battling through visible physical discomfort — requiring repeated attention from the team physio for a hand and hamstring issue — before reaching her second Test half-century off 99 balls. Issy Wong eventually drew a faint outside edge from Mandhana, caught brilliantly by a diving Jones standing up to the stumps, leaving Mandhana 17 runs short of a historic century. Mady Villiers then deceived Harmanpreet with a sharp turner through the gate just before tea.
The final session unravelled quickly. India resumed at 202/5 but lost their last seven wickets for 95 runs. Richa Ghosh (13) top-edged a Filer short ball to fine leg, while Deepti — who played a gritty 57 off 87 balls with seven boundaries, including a masterful sweep game against the spinners — received no support from the tail. Villiers trapped Sneh Rana (13) lbw, and Ecclestone swept through the remaining wickets with clinical efficiency, finishing with 3 for 68.
Sophie Ecclestone Makes History
In claiming a three-wicket haul, Sophie Ecclestone surpassed Katherine Sciver-Brunt to become England's all-time leading wicket-taker across all formats. She walked off to a standing ovation from 10,768 fans at Lord's, now sitting third on the all-format list behind India's Deepti Sharma and Jhulan Goswami. Villiers, on debut, finished with figures of 2 for the innings and impressed throughout the day.
England's Reply: Farewell Stumble for Beaumont
England's 11-over reply was not without drama. Tammy Beaumont, playing her farewell international match, fell for just 2 in the fourth over — trapped in front by Kranti Gaud, who delivered a sharp, low-skidding back-of-a-length delivery. Beaumont opted against a review, though replays suggested it was hitting the stumps.
Kranti also struck the pads of Heather Knight in the eighth over, but India chose not to review an appeal that replays confirmed would have been given out — a potentially costly decision. Maia Bouchier (17 not out) and Knight (1 not out) steadied England to stumps. Notably, Sneh Rana found turn in her solitary over late in the day, suggesting India's spinners could be a significant factor on Day 2.
What to Watch on Day 2
With England still needing 264 runs to avoid the follow-on and India's spin trio of Deepti, Sneh, and Sayali Satghare yet to fully test the hosts, Day 2 promises to be pivotal. A pitch showing early signs of turn could shift the balance sharply in India's favour, making the morning session critical for both sides.
Brief scores: India 285 all out in 74.5 overs (Smriti Mandhana 83, Harmanpreet Kaur 58, Deepti Sharma 57; Sophie Ecclestone 3-68, Issy Wong 2-41) lead England 21/1 in 11 overs (Maia Bouchier 17 not out; Kranti Gaud 1-8) by 264 runs.
Point of View
But the lower order's failure to bat even 10 overs collectively is a recurring vulnerability in Indian women's Test cricket. Ecclestone's milestone is well-earned, but the more telling detail is that Sneh Rana found turn in a single over on Day 1 evening — if the pitch misbehaves on Days 2 and 3, England's middle order will face a far sterner examination than the scorecard currently suggests.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on Day 1 of the Women's Test at Lord's?
India were bowled out for 285 in the first-ever Women's Test at Lord's, with Smriti Mandhana scoring 83 and Harmanpreet Kaur adding 58. England closed Day 1 at 21/1, trailing by 264 runs, after a late-session collapse saw India lose seven wickets for 95 runs.
Who is Sophie Ecclestone and what record did she break?
Sophie Ecclestone is England's lead spinner who, by taking three wickets against India on 10 July, surpassed Katherine Sciver-Brunt to become England's all-time leading wicket-taker across all formats. She now sits third on the overall list, behind India's Deepti Sharma and Jhulan Goswami.
Why is this Women's Test at Lord's historic?
It is the first-ever Women's Test match to be played at Lord's Cricket Ground, one of the most iconic venues in world cricket. Smriti Mandhana also scored the first Women's Test half-century at the ground during Day 1.
How did India's innings unfold on Day 1?
India lost early wickets but were steadied by Mandhana and Harmanpreet to reach 190/3. A collapse of seven wickets for 95 runs in the final session, triggered by Sophie Ecclestone and Mady Villiers, restricted India to 285. Deepti Sharma's 57 off 87 balls was the only resistance from the lower order.
What are the key factors to watch on Day 2?
Sneh Rana found turn in her solitary over on Day 1 evening, suggesting the pitch could assist India's spinners significantly on Day 2. England need to bat well to avoid the follow-on, while India will look to exploit conditions with Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, and Sayali Satghare leading the attack.
