India defeated England in the first women’s cricket match at Lord’s | Cricket News

England, who set a record of 457 to win, were bowled out for 186 before lunch on the final four.

Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma shared the last four wickets as India completed a 270-run victory over England to win the first women’s Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.

England, who set a record 457 to win, were bowled out for 186 before lunch in the final four overs on Monday.

Rana took 4-42, removed Amy Jones for 54 and ended the match when she bowled Sophie Ecclestone for 50.

Fellow off-spinner Sharma chipped in with the wickets of Issy Wong and Lauren Bell as England crumbled in front of a crowd that included Indian cricket great Sachin Tendulkar.

The victory ensured that India ended their tour with fond memories at Lord’s, after being knocked out of the T20 World Cup in the “Home of Cricket” by eventual champions Australia.

In contrast, England struggled to match the demands of the long format in a match that began just days after losing the World T20 final to Australia at Lord’s on July 5.

Their second heaviest Test, in terms of runs, and fourth defeat in five Tests was not how England would have liked to field Tammy Beaumont and former captain Heather Knight in the veteran batsman’s final appearance before retiring from international duty.

The match was a triumph for India’s Kranti Gaud and Yastika Bhatia, the first women to take five wickets and score back-to-back centuries in women’s Tests at Lord’s.

Gaud took 5-37 in England’s opening 170, and Bhatia’s match-winning 113 – his first hundred in any international format – was the cornerstone of India’s second innings 341-7 declared.

Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur praised her improvement, while opener Smriti Mandhana hit fifties in both innings.

“In these Test matches, the way he batted was great to watch,” Kaur said at the launch event.

“Bhatia is a very good batsman. I liked him a lot – that’s why we put him in the XI – and I’m very happy with the way he played.”

Seam bowler Gaud was named player of the match after taking 2-54 in the second innings.

“Growing up, I never thought it would happen like this, but as soon as the exams started, I wanted my name on the honors board,” said Gaud.

“I stuck to what the coaches told me. My strength is hitting the right length and the ball moved and took action.”

‘Special India’

The defeat left England still searching for their first home women’s Test win since 2005.

“I’m disappointed all round,” England coach Charlotte Edwards told Sky Sports.

“You’ve entered the famous Test tournament and it’s been an amazing event. To not play anywhere we’ve won in these four days…”

The former England captain added: “The best performance has to go to India, I thought they were very special.

Nat Sciver-Brunt, the current England captain, lamented the lack of time between games, but said: “As cricketers we have to prepare for this and recover as much as possible before the match.”

England resumed in heavy trouble at 130-6.

The fourth highest run in any women’s Test is Australia’s 198 against England in Sydney in 2011.

England’s slim hopes of victory rested on wicketkeeper Jones, who stood on 52 not out after completing his second fifty of the match.

Jones, however, added just two more runs to the night when he pulled Rana to mid-off.

The expedition team, in countless handicaps, landed several fish. But the end was not long in coming to the audible delight of the Indian fans as they basked in another sunny day at Lord’s.

Although Monday’s crowd was small, the four-day total attendance of 37,846 was a new women’s Test record.