Mandhana anchors India to 285 as Lord’s hosts its first women’s Test

Lord’s had waited its whole history for a women’s Test, and Smriti Mandhana made sure the day belonged to India. Her 83 held the innings together on either side of a middle-order wobble, and half-centuries from Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma carried the tourists to 285 all out on the opening day of the one-off Test in London. England, after choosing to field, closed on 21 for 1.

Mandhana sets the tone

The occasion carried real weight. Fifty years on from the first women’s international staged at the ground, Lord’s finally hosted a women’s Test, and India batted like a side that understood the moment. Mandhana faced 108 balls for her 83, striking eleven fours and a six, and gave the innings its shape after Shafali Verma edged behind for a four-ball duck.

She found willing partners. Jemimah Rodrigues raced to 35 off 38 balls before falling, and when Mandhana was eventually dismissed short of a century, Harmanpreet Kaur took over. The captain dug in for 121 balls, mixing patience with seven boundaries in a knock of 58 that steadied India through the afternoon.

Deepti keeps the scoreboard moving

Deepti Sharma made sure the lower order did not fold cheaply. Her 57 came off 87 balls and pushed India past 280, a total that looked a touch below par at lunch but felt competitive by the time the innings ended in the 75th over. Richa Ghosh chipped in with a brisk 13 before the tail was cleaned up.

England’s bowlers stuck to their task through a long day in the field. Sophie Ecclestone was the pick with three wickets, wheeling through nearly 22 overs of left-arm spin, while Lauren Filer, Issy Wong and Mady Villiers claimed two apiece. There was little that came easy, and India’s willingness to bat time was rewarded with a total that gives their attack something to bowl at.

A quiet start to Beaumont’s farewell

England’s reply began badly. Tammy Beaumont, who is retiring from international cricket at the end of this match after a 17-year career, was trapped lbw for 2, a subdued opening chapter to a farewell she will have hoped to script differently. Maia Bouchier saw out the closing overs to finish unbeaten on 17, with Heather Knight alongside her on 1, and the hosts reached stumps still 264 runs adrift.

The match is finely poised. India will fancy their chances of building a sizeable first-innings lead if their seamers can find early movement on the second morning, while England know a couple of quick partnerships would drag them right back into a Test that has already made history simply by being played.

Follow every session from Lord’s here