​England v India, one-off Test, Lord’s. India 285 (74.5 overs): Mandhana 83; Ecclestone 3-68. England 21-1 (11 overs): Bouchier 17*; Gaud 1-8. England trail by 264 runs.
Sophie Ecclestone became England’s all-time leading wicket-taker across all formats, as the hosts fought back late on day one against India in the first women’s Test at Lord’s. Ecclestone claimed 3-68, moving above Katherine Sciver-Brunt with 338 wickets, after India were bowled out for 285 following Nat Sciver-Brunt’s decision to bowl first in the scorching conditions.
England faced a tricky 11-over spell in the final hour and closed on 21-1, having lost Tammy Beaumont for two in her final international appearance, leaving the match delicately poised. The day began with England’s bowlers looking rusty and tired after the short turnaround from last Sunday’s T20 World Cup final at the same venue. Smriti Mandhana raced to 83 in sprightly fashion, while Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma contributed half-centuries, but India failed to capitalise on the heat, losing their last seven wickets for 95 runs.
Lauren Filer struck early, removing Shafali Verma for a duck to become the first woman to take a Test wicket at Lord’s, and Lauren Bell followed up by engineering the dismissal of Yastika Bhatia with a fine delivery. Mandhana then exploited England’s loose bowling with collaborations of 64 and 89 with Jemimah Rodrigues and Kaur, respectively.
England’s fortunes improved after lunch as Mandhana’s pace of scoring slowed, and she was brilliantly caught by Amy Jones standing up to the stumps off Issy Wong, triggering India’s slide from 190-3. Debutant Mady Villiers dismissed Harmanpreet with a patient 58, before Ecclestone claimed the final three wickets. Villiers finished with 2-79, and the day’s pitches offered substantial assistance to spinners, underscoring the challenge for England’s batters over the next three days under the forecast hot weather.
Another three days of high temperatures are expected, and England will be hoping for more improvements with bat in hand as they chase a first-innings lead and try to convert the momentum from late-day play into a decisive early innings. More to follow.