​London (AP) — Sneh Rana delivered the decisive breakthroughs as India sealed a commanding 270-run win over England in the first ever women’s Test at Lord’s, the legendary home of cricket, even as Sophie Ecclestone offered stubborn resistance with a half-century. England resumed play on Monday, the fourth and final day, at 130-6 chasing a daunting 457, a target more than double any successful fourth-innings chase in women’s Test history. It took India just over an hour and a half to conclude the match, with Rana removing England’s top-scorer Amy Jones for 54 before Deepti Sharma struck twice in quick succession to halt any late resistance.
Ecclestone, partnered for a time with No. 11 Lauren Filer, for her maiden Test half-century, but Rana had the last say, bowling Ecclestone for 50 as England were all out for 186. The one-off Test was replete with personal milestones. Kranti Gaud, India’s pace spearhead, became the first woman to have her name added to Lord’s honors boards for a five-wicket haul. Later in the match, Yastika Bhatia joined the milestone club by scoring 113, her maiden century in a women’s Test at Lord’s, while Ecclestone claimed five wickets in India’s second innings, further widening the Indian advantage.
England’s cricketing week continued to be frustrating, as Tammy Beaumont and former captain Heather Knight announced their retirements from international cricket after the match. For India, the victory provides a much-needed confidence boost following their failure to advance to the semifinals of the Women’s T20 World Cup. For England, the result adds to a disappointing run at Lord’s, coming just over a week after their loss to Australia in the T20 World Cup final held at the same venue.
This historic Test, a landmark in the evolution of women’s cricket, showcased India’s all-round strength, with Rana’s early strikes and Sharma’s late breakthroughs proving decisive. It also highlighted moments of resilience from England, with Ecclestone’s composed fifty and the stubborn resistance of Jones before her dismissal, underscoring the level of competition on display at Lord’s. The match will be remembered not only for its results but also for the achievements of players who etched their names onto the storied walls of Lord’s, marking a new chapter in the annals of women’s cricket.