​Sunday saw Yastika Bhatia make history by becoming the first woman to score a Test century at the Home of Cricket, as India moved closer to a famous Test victory over England in the historic first-ever Women’s Test at Lord’s. While vice-captain Smriti Mandhana had been unfortunate to be dismissed leg side off Lauren Bell for 70 off 130 balls, the less heralded left-hander Yastika delivered a sublime maiden Test hundred, finishing on 113 from 158 deliveries with 14 fours. Her sparkling innings helped India declare at 341 for seven, just before tea, setting England a challenging target of 457 to win.
England began Day Three with the daunting task of chasing a substantial total after India’s declaration, and they faced a stern test against India’s relentless seam pressure. England were bowled out for 170 in their first innings and, by the end of Day Three, had slipped to 130 for six, still needing 327 runs with only four wickets in hand as they faced a resurgent Indian attack.
India’s pace and swing bowlers led the charge once again, with Kranti Gaud making a major impact after her first-innings five-for 37, which had already earned her the history-making distinction of being the first woman to claim a Test five-wicket haul at Lord’s. Gaud struck early in England’s second innings, delivering the breakthrough with the very first ball of the innings as she bowled Tammy Beaumont for a duck in what proved to be the visitors’ opening setback. She then dismissed former England captain Heather Knight for 13, who was caught behind by Richa Ghosh after taking part in a guard of honour from India following Knight’s retirement announcement a day earlier. Gaud’s two wickets in this innings brought her tally to seven wickets for 77 in the match, a remarkable performance that anchored India’s control. Sayali Satghare complemented Gaud’s efforts with her own incisive spell, taking two for 19, including the important wicket of Maia Bouchier lbw for two, which helped keep England on the defensive and contributed to India’s ascendant position.
Earlier in the day, Yastika had produced a memorable innings, continuing from her overnight 39. The 25-year-old resumed with a narrow reprieve when a delivery from Lauren Bell clipped the leg stump but did not remove the bails. She responded immediately, unfurling a powerful drive straight down the ground for four and moving to a quickly earned fifty. Throughout her innings, Yastika batted with elegance and assurance, partner­ing effectively with the experienced Smriti Mandhana to stabilise the innings. Yastika’s stroke play was a blend of crisp cover drives, authoritative pulls, and deft late cuts, with good footwork against the spinners. She displayed confidence in leaving and selecting shots, and when needed, used the pace of the bowlers to find the boundary. A pivotal moment came on 91 when she struck back-to-back boundaries off Issy Wong before nudging a single to deep extra cover to bring up her maiden Test hundred.
In this defining partnership with Mandhana, India steadied the ship after a mid-innings wobble and then surged forward to reach a commanding total. Mandhana’s 70 off 130 balls, including nine fours and one six, was a crucial support act, providing the anchor at one end while Yastika played a more expansive, boundary-laden role at the other. The stand between Bhatia and Mandhana helped push India beyond the 300-mark and helped set up the declaration at 341 for seven, a score that put the pressure firmly on England on Day Three and created a platform for India to press for victory in the final day of the historic Lord’s Test.
As the day drew to a close, India remained on top, with England’s hopes hanging by a thread. The English innings had already faced early setbacks, but their remaining batsmen would need to show fight if they were to salvage a draw or a win. The match was poised for a historic finish, with India eyeing a famous win at Lord’s, a venue steeped in history and legend, and a moment etched in the memory of women’s cricket history.
Brief scores: India 285 and 341/7 declared (Y. Bhatia 113, S. Mandhana 70, R. Ghosh 50*, S. Ecclestone 5/118) vs England 170 and 130/6 (A. Jones 52, S. Satghare 2/19, K. Gaud 2/40) for a dramatic final-day chase.