England crashed to a second heavy defeat at Lord’s in a little over a week with India needing just over 90 minutes on the final day of the historic first women’s Test at the ground to wrap up a 270-run victory.
Eight days on from their seven-wicket loss to Australia in the Women’s T20 World Cup final, England were bundled out for 186 in their second innings after being set a record 457.
Sophie Ecclestone (50), who was dropped on eight and 16 and successfully overturned an lbw dismissal on 44 by dint of an edge, offered up resilience and some crisp cover drives during her maiden international fifty, before she was last out, bowled through the gate by a beauty from India off-spinner Sneh Rana (4-42).
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Jones tamely hacked Sheh Rana to midwicket in the third over of the day
The hosts had resumed on 130-6, with Tammy Beaumont (0) and Heather Knight (13) among those out the previous evening as the pair played their final innings before international retirement.
Amy Jones (54) hacked Rana to midwicket in the third over of the day, adding only two runs to her overnight score, before Issy Wong (1) and Lauren Bell (0) were castled by Deepti Sharma (2-36)
Rana then had the final say as India polished things off in front of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
Sophie Ecclestone scored her maiden international fifty, beating her previous best Test score of 35 against South Africa at Taunton in 2022
England now take a break from international cricket for The Hundred – live on Sky Sports from July 21-August 16 – before returning to action for three ODIs at home to Ireland in early September, with games in Leicester, Derby and Worcester.
India bounce back from early T20 World Cup exit
India, who have now won four of their last five Tests, including a 347-run victory over England in Navi Mumbai in 2023, were dominant throughout the Lord’s encounter, out-batting, out-bowling and out-thinking their opponents.
India fast bowler Kranti Gaud was a constant threat to England in the Lord’s Test
Bar an England fightback with the ball on day one, as home spinner Ecclestone became her side’s leading wicket-taker across all formats, and an 84-run partnership between Jones and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt on the second morning, it has been all India.
The result was just the tonic for Harmanpreet Kaur’s side after their group-stage exit at the T20 World Cup.
Two of their players etched their names on to the Lord’s Test honours board – pinpoint seamer Gaud for a five-wicket haul and batter Yastika Bhatia for her century.
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India’s Yastika Bhatia is the first woman to score a Test century at Lord’s, making 113 in the tourists’ second innings
It was just a surprise Smriti Mandhana could not join them with the opener looking well set for hundreds in each innings before falling to seam for 83 and 70 respectively.
Ecclestone was the first England women’s player to get on the Test honours board, courtesy of her second-innings five-for, and showed her batting aptitude on the final morning.
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England spinner Sophie Ecclestone etched her name onto the Lord’s honours board with a five-wicket haul
Other highlights for the hosts included a promising Test debut for off-spinning all-rounder Mady Villiers – skilful with the ball, stubborn with the bat, livewire on the field – and Jones’ twin half-centuries.
After a lean T20 World Cup runs-wise, Jones’ knocks at Lord’s perhaps ended any immediate questions about her place in the side, although both of her dismissals were incredibly soft.
Those plus points, though, are scant consolation after such a heavy defeat, with England still winless in home Tests since 2005.
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Highlights from day three where England’s Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight fell cheaply on their international farewells
Beaumont and 2017 ODI World Cup-winning captain Knight managed just one and 19 runs respectively in the match, although that does not detract from the stellar England careers they have enjoyed for well over 15 years. England must now make do without them.
Watch cricket and more top sport live on Sky Sports contract-free with NOW. England men begin a three-match one-day international series at home to India on Tuesday, at Edgbaston, with coverage on Sky Sports Cricket from 10.15am (11am first ball).
