Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana (83, 108b, 11×4, 1×6), captain Harmanpreet Kaur (58, 121b, 7×4) and seasoned allrounder Deepti Sharma (57, 87b, 7×4) struck resolute fifties as India posted 285 before pacer Kranti Gaud’s early breakthrough left England at 21 for one on an engrossing opening day of the historic first-ever women’s Test at Lord’s.After opting to bat, India looked set for a much bigger total at 190 for three but suffered a collapse, losing seven wickets for 95 runs.England dominated the final session, taking the last four wickets for just 11 runs in 42 balls. Leftarm spinner Sophie Ecclestone (368) finished with three wickets, including the final three, as India were bowled out in 74.5 overs.India struck back late when pacer Kranti Gaud trapped opener Tammy Beaumont (2), playing the final Test of her career, lbw with a sharp inswinger. Gaud nearly dismissed Heather Knight too, but India declined a review that balltracking later showed would have hit the stumps. Maia Bouchier was unbeaten on 17 and Knight on one at stumps.Earlier, England made the perfect start. Lauren Bell and Lauren Filer struck inside the opening seven overs, removing Shafali Verma for a duck and Yastika Bhatia (12). Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues (35) rebuilt with a brisk 64run stand before Rodrigues dragged Issy Wong onto her stumps.Mandhana then combined with Harmanpreet in an 89-run fourthwicket partnership that steadied India after a shaky start. The lefthander played with characteristic fluency, peppering the off-side with elegant drives and also launching Ecclestone for six. However, she fell for 83, edging Wong behind while chasing a wide delivery.Harmanpreet, under scrutiny after India’s group-stage exit at the Women’s T20 World Cup, responded with a patient half-century despite battling cramps. Soon after Mandhana’s dismissal, she was undone by debutant off-spinner Mady Villiers, who picked up her maiden Test wicket with a delivery that drifted and turned through the gate.Richa Ghosh (13) failed to make an impact, but Deepti’s composed knock and a 46-run stand with Sneh Rana kept India afloat before another collapse ended the innings.Brief Scores: India 285 (Mandhana 83, Harmanpreet 58, Sharma 57) lead England 21-1 by 264 runs.
