One-off Women's Test: India on verge of historic win
What's the story
India are on the verge of a historic victory over England in the ongoing Women's Test at Lord's. The hosts ended day three at 130/6, chasing a world-record target of 457 runs. England suffered early blows with Tammy Beaumont dismissed for a golden duck and Heather Knight out for just 13 runs. Both players are set to retire from international cricket after this match.
Match overview
England require 327 more runs to win
England's batting crumbled under pressure, with captain Nat Sciver-Brunt dismissed for 11 and Maia Bouchier out for just two runs. However, Amy Jones (52 not out) and Mady Villiers (26) put up a resistance with a sixth-wicket partnership of 67 runs from 105 balls. Despite this, India is expected to wrap up the match quickly on day four, having already secured a massive victory over England in Navi Mumbai in 2023 by 347 runs.
Player performances
India's batters did well on Day 3
India's batters dominated the game, with overnight batter Yastika Bhatia becoming the first woman to score a Test century at Lord's. Smriti Mandhana, who was unbeaten on 69 at stumps on Day 2, perished early for 70 on Day 3. Richa Ghosh (50*) did well and took India to 341/7d. England's best bowler was left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone, who took three wickets in the first innings and five in the second. After dismissing Shafali Verma on Day 2, she picked 4 wickets today.
Match analysis
Summary of England's innings so far
England's batting woes continued as they lost their first five wickets for just 59 runs in less than 20 overs. Beaumont was bowled out for a golden duck by India's Kranti Gaud, while Knight was caught behind off an inside edge. Sciver-Brunt (11) was also dismissed after attempting to sweep Sneh Rana, one ball after overturning an lbw decision. Amy Jones is unbeaten on 52 from 72 balls. She clocked her 2nd successive fifty in this match.
Mandhana
Mandhana slams successive fifties versus ENG-W
After slamming a superb 83-run knock for her side in the 1st innings, Mandhana managed a 130-ball 70 in the 3rd. Mandhana's 70 was laced with a six and nine fours. In 9 matches (16 innings), Mandhana raced to 788 runs at an average of 52.53. She smashed her 5th fifty in the format (100s: 2). As per ESPNcricinfo, Mandhana has amassed 355 runs against England from 4 matches at 44.37. She recorded her 4th fifty against England.
Yastika
Massive record for Yastika in India colors
As per Cricbuzz, Yastika now owns the highest score by an Indian batswoman in the 3rd/4th innings of a Women's Test. Highest scores in 3rd/4th innings of a Women's Test for India 113 - Yastika Bhatia vs ENG-W, Lord's, 2026 98 - Sandhya Agarwal vs NZ-W, Lucknow, 1985 83 - Sandhya Agarwal vs AUS-W, Wankhede, 1984 80* - Sneh Rana vs ENG-W, Bristol, 2021
Information
2nd fifty-plus score from Yastika's blade
Yastika recorded her maiden century and a 2nd fifty-plus score in the longest format for India. In 4 matches, she has raced to 223 runs at 31.85. In 2 matches against England, she owns 200 runs at 50 (100s: 1, 50s: 1).
Sophie
Sophie Ecclestone claims her 4th five-wicket haul in WTests
Ecclestone managed 5/118 from 33.3 overs. She now owns 48 Test scalps from 10 matches (18 innings) at an average of 28.66. As per ESPNcricinfo, 21 of her wickets have come against IND-W from three matches at 26.61. On home soil, the spinner has amassed 31 wickets from 5 matches at 24.83. Ecclestone bagged her 4th five-wicket haul in WTests. She also owns one match haul of 10 wickets.
Do you know?
3rd bowler with this feat
Ecclestone is now the 3rd bowler in England vs India Women Test matches with 20-plus wickets. She joined the likes of Jhulan Goswami (30) and Neetu David (25). Meanwhile, she is the first Englishwoman to do so.
Feats
Notable feats for Ecclestone
Ecclestone finished the match with figures worth 8/186 from 55.2 overs across two innings. It's now the 4th-best match figures in ENG-IND matches. Meanwhile, it's also England's best match figures by a bowler against India. Ecclestone broke her own record. She had earlier managed 8/206 in 2021. Ecclestone claimed her maiden five-wicket haul against India. Besides this fifer, she also owns two four-fers against India. Ecclestone is also the 4th Englishwoman with a five-wicket haul against India.
Ghosh
Richa Ghosh slams her 3rd half-century in WTests
Richa slammed 8 fours in her knock of 50*. With this effort, she has amassed 225 runs from 4 matches at an average of 37.5. She slammed her 3rd fifty. Versus England Women, she managed 63 runs across two innings in what was her debut match in this format. Besides England, Richa owns one fifty each against Australia and South Africa Women respectively.