India’s women made history at Lord’s, posting 285 before England closed Day 1 on 21/1 in the first women’s Test at the iconic venue. Smriti Mandhana’s dazzling 83 and Deepti Sharma’s gritty fifty stole the show.

Mandhana’s Masterclass Lights Up Lord’s

Three balls. One pull. Pure class. Smriti Mandhana turned Lord’s into her stage, punishing wayward England seamers with drives as smooth as silk and slog sweeps that sent the crowd into raptures. Lauren Bell and Sophie Ecclestone struggled for rhythm early, and Mandhana feasted—racing to 50 in 50 balls as India hit 100 by the 19th over. The left-hander slowed only slightly after lunch before Issy Wong’s clever change-up—bringing Amy Jones up to the stumps—ended her innings for 83.

England’s Clever Pullback

Wong was the game-changer. With Jones standing up, her 36 deliveries conceded just 12 runs, stifling Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur. The false shot rate? A staggering 30.5%. England’s seamers had sprayed 70 of 103 first-session balls too full or too short, but the adjustment worked—Mandhana’s wicket was the prize.

India’s bold spin-heavy attack—two seamers, three spinners—contrasted sharply with England’s three-pronged pace strategy. Mady Villiers and Ecclestone found turn, hinting at a deteriorating pitch that could vindicate India’s gamble later in the Test.

Harmanpreet and Deepti Fire, Lower Order Faltters

Harmanpreet Kaur played the perfect second fiddle, punching six boundaries through the off-side in an 89-run stand with Mandhana. Her 50 came off 99 balls before Mady Villiers’ sharp turn undid her just before Tea. Deepti Sharma then took charge, shifting from 19 off 43 to a 70-ball fifty, sweeping and smashing with trademark flair. But India’s tail wobbled—from 274/6 to 285 all out—after Ghosh fell for 13.

India’s Seamers Strike Early

Sayali Satghare and Kranti Gaud made the new ball talk, hooping it into the right-handers. Gaud trapped Tammy Beaumont LBW, and should’ve had Heather Knight too—India’s missed review cost them a wicket. England’s first boundary came on the 40th ball of their innings, but Knight and Maia Bouchier steadied the ship to finish Day 1 at 21/1.

Day 2 promises more fireworks as England look to chase down India’s total on a pitch that’s already showing signs of life for the spinners.