India’s rising right‑arm pacer Kranti Gaud has etched her name into history by becoming the first female cricketer to feature on the iconic Lord’s honours board for a Test performance. At just 22, Gaud produced a spell of 5/37, dismissing Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Nat Sciver‑Brunt, Alice Capsey and Lauren Bell.
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Gaud showcased remarkable skill with the wobble seam, getting the ball to nip both ways and wreaking havoc in England’s dressing room. Consistently clocking around 110kph, her probing line and length proved too much for the hosts. Thanks to her brilliance, England were bundled out for just 170 in the first innings, giving India a commanding lead of 115 runs.
India capitalised on that advantage, and another historic moment followed. Wicketkeeper‑batter Yastika Bhatia carved her own place on the honours board by becoming the first woman to score a Test century at Lord’s. Her fluent 113 off 158 deliveries, decorated with 14 fours, was a masterclass in patience and precision.
Yastika added 73 runs for the second wicket with Smriti Mandhana, laying the foundation for a formidable second‑innings total. Mandhana herself struck her second fifty of the match, threading gaps with ease and frustrating England’s bowlers.
India eventually declared at 341/7, setting England an improbable target of 457 runs. By stumps on day three, the visitors had reduced England to 130/6, leaving themselves just four wickets away from an unforgettable triumph at the home of cricket.
If India go on to win this Test, it will act as a balm on the scars they carry after their second consecutive group-stage exit at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
