The historic women’s Test match between India and England at Lord’s began with high expectations, but Team India’s innings ended with a disappointing finish. After a promising start, the Indian batting lineup lost momentum and was bowled out for 285 runs on the first day of the match.

The match marked a special moment as it was the first women’s Test being played at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Early Setbacks Put India Under Pressure

India came out to bat first but suffered an early blow when opener Shafali Verma was dismissed without scoring in the second over.

Yastika Bhatia also failed to make a major impact, leaving India struggling at 37 runs for the loss of two wickets.

However, Smriti Mandhana stepped up and changed the momentum of the innings with a brilliant display of batting.

Smriti Mandhana Shines With Quick Half-Century

Smriti Mandhana played a confident and aggressive innings, reaching her half-century in just 50 balls. It became her fastest fifty in Test cricket and one of the fastest by an Indian woman batter in the format.

Mandhana built a valuable partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues, who contributed 35 runs and helped stabilize India’s innings.

Later, Mandhana continued her excellent form alongside captain Harmanpreet Kaur. The duo added 89 runs together and pushed India into a stronger position.

Middle Order Collapse Hurts India

When India reached 190 for 3, England bowler EC Wong dismissed Mandhana for 83 runs, ending hopes of a memorable century at Lord’s.

After her departure, India struggled to maintain the momentum. Harmanpreet Kaur scored a valuable 58 runs before losing her wicket, while Deepti Sharma fought hard with a 57-run knock.

However, a lack of support from the lower order led to India losing seven wickets for just 95 runs.

England Bowlers Make Strong Comeback

England’s bowling attack capitalized on India’s collapse, with spinner Sophie Ecclestone being the standout performer. She took three important wickets and played a key role in restricting India’s total.

Final Thoughts

India showed great resilience through performances from Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Deepti Sharma, but the late batting collapse prevented them from reaching a bigger total. The historic Lord’s Test remains evenly poised, with both teams looking to gain control in the upcoming sessions.