The opening day of the first women’s Test match at Lord’s concluded with India bowled out for 285, and England at 21 for one, setting the stage for an intriguing second day. This historic match marks the first time England has played a Test match at the venue, with over 30,000 tickets sold, a record for a women’s Test in the UK.
Before play commenced, former women players, who had not had the opportunity to play a Test at Lord’s, rang a ceremonial bell on the outfield. This gesture acknowledged the historical journey to this significant moment in women’s cricket.
India’s innings and England’s fightback
India, after being asked to bat first, had a strong start, reaching 190 for three. Key contributions came from Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur. Mandhana combined powerful hitting with classical cover drives, while Kaur capitalised on scoring opportunities. Deepti Sharma also contributed a half-century, her side’s third of the day.
Despite these efforts, no batter managed to convert their start into a large individual score. The anticipated 300-plus total for India did not materialise, as England fought back after lunch. Issy Wong, who had additional time for red-ball preparation after not securing a spot in England’s World Cup matches, made a significant impact. Her afternoon spell led to the dismissal of Mandhana, who edged through to the wicketkeeper.
Wong expressed that she and Lauren Filer had been building towards this match for some time, and the opportunity to bowl longer spells with the red ball felt beneficial. She also highlighted the team’s appreciation for Test cricket and their desire for more matches in the calendar.
A notable moment came from debutant Mady Villiers, who bowled Harmanpreet Kaur in the final over before tea. Kaur had reportedly been struggling with a hand injury and hamstring issues. Villiers’ delivery turned sharply to bowl the India captain.
India’s batting line-up saw a swift collapse in the evening session, losing their final five wickets for the addition of 83 runs. England then faced a challenging 45 minutes to bat, during which Tammy Beaumont was trapped leg-before by Kranti Gaud.
Ecclestone’s record-breaking performance
The day was particularly memorable for Sophie Ecclestone. After bowling 20 overs without success, she took three wickets in six balls to conclude India’s innings. This performance saw her surpass Katherine Sciver-Brunt to become England women’s leading wicket-taker of all time, with a current tally of 337 wickets across all formats.
Ecclestone led her team off the field to a standing ovation from the crowd. Earlier in the day, Nat Sciver-Brunt, having won the toss, opted to field first, a decision mirroring one made 50 years ago by Rachael Heyhoe Flint. This unconventional choice suggested England’s determination to secure 20 wickets in the four-day match.
The decision allowed Lauren Bell to deliver the first ball in a women’s Test at Lord’s. Lauren Filer claimed the first wicket, dismissing Shafali Verma in the second over with a delivery that topped 79mph. Bell then bowled Yastika Bhatia with a ball that swung in and seamed away.
Resilience and future outlook
Nat Sciver-Brunt had previously urged her team to show resilience in this historic match, following their recent loss in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final. She noted that the change to red-ball cricket was a welcome one, bringing fresh energy to the squad.
Sciver-Brunt also spoke of her pride in the team’s World Cup achievements and the significance of playing a Test at Lord’s. She highlighted the importance of determination throughout a Test match, acknowledging the challenges posed by India’s experienced batters who value their wickets.
The match also marks Tammy Beaumont’s final Test for England, as she is set to retire from international cricket after this weekend. Sciver-Brunt praised Beaumont’s career, her determination, and her role in the team, expressing that her presence will be missed both as a player and a friend. England has only beaten India once in their 15 previous red-ball meetings.
With India having scored 285, they are considered to be in a strong position, as no team has ever lost a women’s Test after scoring more than 282 in the first innings. England’s best hope for a victory from this point is to bat for an extended period and then bowl India out cheaply in their second innings.
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Source: theguardian.com
Freya Donnelly is the Sports Reporter at News-UK, covering tennis, cricket and athletics with seven years of reporting experience. She reported on Team GB through an Olympic cycle. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Brighton and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Brighton, she plays club cricket in the summer. “Listening is the most underrated skill in sports reporting.”
