Smriti Mandhana played a key role with the bat
Kranti Gaud etched her name into cricket history after becoming the first woman to appear on the Lord’s Test honours board during India’s dominant display against England.
The 22-year-old seamer produced a stunning spell of red-ball bowling, taking five wickets for 37 runs as England were dismissed for 170 in the one-off Test.
Gaud’s accuracy, movement and ability to extract help from the surface proved too difficult for England’s batters, with her teasing line and wobble seam deliveries leaving the hosts struggling at 47 for four.
It was a landmark performance from Gaud, who was playing only her second Test match after making her debut against Australia at the Waca in March 2026.
After bowling England out, India reached 154 for one at the close of play, building a lead of 269.
Smriti Mandhana played a key role with the bat, reaching her second half-century of the match and finishing unbeaten on 69.
India’s dominant batting display also featured contributions from Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhatia, who continued to put pressure on a tiring England attack.
Verma struck Sophie Ecclestone’s first over for 13 runs, while Mandhana punished England’s short-ball tactics by repeatedly pulling Lauren Filer to the boundary.
Bhatia remained unbeaten on 39 after charging down the track to hit Mady Villiers for four, while also benefiting from a missed stumping opportunity by Amy Jones.
Despite England’s difficult position, Jones remained confident her side could still fight back.
She said: “Today was tough but still good fun.
“I’m excited for the next two days. You never know what could happen and how it could unravel. It’s a good batting wicket so it could be an exciting chase. We absolutely believe that we can win.”
However, England spinner Sophie Ecclestone admitted the hosts had endured a difficult day.
Kranti Gaud’s historic performance was part of a wider bowling effort that dismantled England’s top order.
She dismissed Maia Bouchier after the batter edged behind attempting an attacking shot before producing a brilliant delivery to remove debutant Alice Capsey.
Capsey appeared set to defend but played down the wrong line, with Gaud’s delivery crashing into the stumps.
India had also missed an earlier opportunity to dismiss Heather Knight when they chose not to review an lbw appeal against the England captain.
Knight, who has two Test scores of 150 to her name, survived the moment but was eventually removed by Sayali Satghare.
Satghare delivered from the Pavilion End and trapped Knight lbw, with reviews showing the delivery would have clipped leg stump.
England’s innings was briefly stabilised by Jones, who reached a half-century from 59 balls and looked capable of producing a crucial innings.
However, she fell shortly before lunch after hitting a catch to Richa Ghosh at short-leg.
Later in the innings, debutant Villiers showed composure despite facing close fielders around the bat.
She made 10 from 33 balls before Sneh Rana dismissed her with a flighted delivery that turned sharply and went through the gate.
England avoided the follow-on, but India remain firmly in control of the contest.
With Rana already finding significant turn from the pitch, England face a challenging task to prevent India from completing a memorable victory.
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