Smriti Mandhana has played countless memorable innings throughout her career, but her 83-run knock at Lord’s will remain a special one despite ending in disappointment. In the first-ever women’s Test match at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, the Indian opener produced a brilliant performance against England but narrowly missed the opportunity to create history.
Mandhana looked comfortable at the crease and appeared set for a landmark century before one wrong shot brought her innings to an end.
A Brilliant Knock Ends After Costly Mistake
The left-handed batter showcased her class against England’s bowling attack, confidently handling the movement and playing several impressive strokes. During her innings, Mandhana scored 11 boundaries and one six, keeping the scoreboard moving with confidence.
However, in the 45th over, England bowler EC Wong found a breakthrough. Mandhana attempted to play a cut shot on a delivery outside the off-stump, but the ball took a thin edge and was safely caught by wicketkeeper Amy Jones.
The shot selection proved costly as the delivery was wide enough to leave alone. With that dismissal, Mandhana’s chance of becoming the first female cricketer to score a Test century at Lord’s slipped away.
Lord’s Honour Board Dream Remains Unfulfilled
Scoring a century at Lord’s is considered one of the biggest achievements in cricket. The names of century-makers are displayed on the famous Lord’s Honour Board, making it a dream destination for many legendary players.
Mandhana was within touching distance of becoming the first woman to achieve this milestone at the historic venue.
Harmanpreet Kaur Also Misses Big Opportunity
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur also contributed with a valuable innings, scoring 58 runs from 121 balls. However, she was dismissed by an excellent delivery from England spinner Villiers.
The dismissal was more about the quality of the bowling than any mistake from Harmanpreet, as the delivery was difficult for most batters to handle.
India Faces Early Setbacks
India did not get the ideal start in the innings. Opener Shafali Verma was dismissed without scoring after facing just four balls. Soon after, Lauren Bell dismissed Yastika Bhatia for 12 runs.
Jemimah Rodrigues provided some stability with a quick 35-run contribution before being bowled by EC Wong.
Final Thoughts
Although Smriti Mandhana missed out on a historic century, her innings highlighted her ability to perform on the biggest stages. A score of 83 at Lord’s in a landmark Test match will still be remembered as a special moment in women’s cricket.
