India took complete control of the one-off women’s Test against England at Lord’s, ending Day 2 on 154/1 in their second innings with a commanding overall lead of 269 runs.
After securing a 115-run first-innings advantage by bowling England out for 170, India made the most of ideal batting conditions. Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma added 88 runs for the first wicket, putting England under sustained pressure. Verma scored a fluent 33 before being dismissed by Sophie Ecclestone, while Mandhana remained unbeaten on 69 at stumps. Yastika Bhatia provided excellent support with an unbeaten 39 as the pair extended India’s dominance.
Earlier in the day, debutant Kranti Gaud starred with the ball, claiming a superb 5 for 37 to bowl England out for 170. Her five-wicket haul also earned her a place on the iconic Lord’s Honours Board, making her the first woman to achieve the feat in a Test match at the historic venue. Amy Jones top-scored for England with 52, while Nat Sciver-Brunt contributed 44, but the hosts failed to erase India’s first-innings total of 285.
England’s bowlers struggled to make inroads in the final session, with Ecclestone claiming the lone wicket. Lauren Bell bowled disciplined spells but went wicketless despite conceding just 16 runs in 11 overs.
With two days remaining and nine wickets in hand, India are firmly in control and will look to build an even bigger lead before declaring. England face a daunting task to stay alive in the inaugural women’s Test at Lord’s.
