England vs India, Women’s Test: Sophie Ecclestone as team’s leading wicket-taker as tourists 285 all out at Lord’s | cricket news

Sophie Ecclestone became England Women’s leading wicket-taker in all formats after dismissing hosts India for 285 on the first day of the historic first Women’s Test at Lord’s.

Spin bowler Ecclestone (3-68) took his tally to 338 in 10 Tests, 84 ODIs and 113 T20s, eclipsing all-rounder Dipti Sharma (57) and tailenders Sayali Satghar (1) and Kranti Gaur (1), surpassing the previous record holder Catherine Schiver (335).

Only India’s Deepti (357) and compatriot Jhulan Goswami (355) have more wickets in women’s internationals than Ecclestone, with the England star eclipsing Australia’s great Ellis Perry (336) in her last-innings blast in London on Friday evening.

Ecclestone’s three breakthroughs came in six balls after India lost their last four wickets for 11 runs after an earlier slump of 190-3 to 3-39, once Smriti Mandhana (83) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (58) fell to set batsmen as the 89-run stand was broken.

England came into bat about 45 minutes before stumps with Tammy Beaumont – playing his last match for his country after a 17-year international career – pinned lbw in two balls by Goud, who dismissed Heather Knight (No.1) in similar fashion when India reviewed, his delivery ready to pound the stumps.

The hosts closed to 21-1 in 11 overs – Maia Bouchier unbeaten after 17 boundaries – to cut their deficit to 264.

The day, which began with home skipper Nat Syver-Brant opting to bowl in roasting conditions, was also notable for a brilliant 19-over spell off-spin from England debutant Maddy Villiers, whose 2-79 included a gem of a delivery to Harmanpreet in the teacup.

England is fighting again with the ball at Lord’s

Lauren Filler (2-40) struck in just the second over of the match while co-seamer Lauren Bell (1-50) – one of six players in the playing XI for Sunday’s World T20 final loss to Australia at Lord’s – took a wicket in the seventh over as India trailed 37-2.

However, Mandhana shared half-centuries with Jemimah Rodriguez (35) and Harmanpreet, while Deepti’s knock rallied India to 229-6 before the end of the innings thanks to Ecclestone.

England, who were given Test debuts by all-rounders Alice Capsey and Villiers, were misguided with the ball in the morning session and were perhaps lucky to claim three wickets.

Shafali Verma (0) dropped the filler back, Yastika Bhatia (12) had her off stump knocked by Bell Beauty and Rodriguez pulled a drivable delivery from EC Wang (2-41) onto her stumps.

There was much more precision after lunch, with Wong particularly rewarded for a probing spell when he coaxed an edge from Mandhana behind just after the break in play as Harmanpreet was suffering from cramp.

The lively Villiers – who has played 22 white-ball matches for England – cleaned up Harmanpreet with a sharply curved delivery, while he later trapped Sneh Rana (13) lbw in the sweep.

Mandhana, Deepti among those to fire for India

Mandhana rattled off a 50-ball half-century from England’s morning lull – his sixth fifty-plus score in nine Tests – with trademark gorgeous cover-driven boundaries as well as powerful pulls and a blazing slog-swept six in his innings.

Deepti’s fifty, which ended when he failed to get the height to clear Knight at midwicket and dropped Ecclestone, was his fifth in Tests and could prove crucial in the final analysis.

Around Deepti’s dismissal, Ecclestone pinned leg before seven and castled Goud, while Filler’s second wicket came when he flicked Ghosh to Wong at deep fine leg from the bottom of the bat.

This is the 16th women’s Test between England and India, the previous 15 having seen 11 draws, three India wins – including the most recent meeting in Mumbai in December 2023 – and England’s only win in Jamshedpur in 1995.

After the first day at Lord’s, the final installment remains.

Wong: England had a brilliant day

England fast bowler EC Wong, speaking to Sky Sports Cricket:

“I think we had a brilliant day. When you win the toss and bowl, you put yourself in a position where you get the opposition out before the end of the game.

“All the bowlers have chipped in, so we’re really happy. There’s enough on the pitch, enough movement outside the seam.

“(Villiers) bowled incredibly. It’s been a long time for him because he’s obviously played in the other two formats for a while.

“We were all clamoring for him to come back, to bring the Whites and show exactly why he is in the team. He bowled brilliantly.”

Watch live the second day of the individual women’s test between England and India at Lord’s Sky Sports Cricket Saturday from 10.30am (11am first ball). Stream cricket contract free now.