The first women’s Test at Lord’s witnessed the arrival of a new Indian pace sensation on Saturday as Kranti Gaud produced a spell for the ages, claiming 5 for 37 to bowl England out for 170 and hand India a commanding 115-run first-innings lead. The 22-year-old pacer not only tore through England’s batting order but also etched her name into the record books with a memorable performance at the Home of Cricket.
Gaud Leads India’s Pace Revolution
Resuming the day 2 at 21/1, England briefly threatened to claw their way back through a fighting 52 from Amy Jones and 44 from captain Nat Sciver-Brunt. The pair stitched together a crucial partnership after the early wicket of Maia Bouchier, but India never allowed the hosts to take complete control.
Sneh Rana broke the stand by dismissing Jones before lunch, triggering another collapse. Once India sensed an opening, Gaud ripped through the lower order with relentless accuracy, claiming the prized wicket of Sciver-Brunt before completing her maiden Test five-wicket haul with Lauren Bell’s dismissal. Deepti Sharma wrapped up the innings by trapping Lauren Filer lbw as England folded for 170 in 59.1 overs.
India’s bowlers shared the workload brilliantly, with Sneh Rana picking up two wickets and Sayali Satghare providing valuable breakthroughs, but the day unquestionably belonged to Gaud.
India’s Batters laid the platform
India’s commanding position was built on the opening day after posting 285 in their first innings. Smriti Mandhana top-scored with a fluent 83, setting the tone after India lost Shafali Verma early. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur anchored the middle order with a patient 58 before Deepti Sharma’s composed 57 ensured India crossed the 280-run mark despite a late collapse.
England’s bowlers fought back through Sophie Ecclestone, who claimed three wickets, while Issy Wong and debutant Mady Villiers chipped in to prevent India from posting an even bigger total.
Gaud rewrites the record books
Gaud’s dream outing came with several milestones. At 22 years and 333 days, she became the youngest Indian woman fast bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in Test cricket, breaking Jhulan Goswami’s record of 22 years and 361 days against England in Delhi in 2005.
Her five-wicket haul also marked the first five-for by a pace bowler in a women’s Test in England since Ellyse Perry’s 6/32 at Canterbury in 2015. Among Indian women’s pace bowlers, only Jhulan Goswami has more Test five-wicket hauls.
England’s first-innings total of 170 also became their third-lowest first-innings score against India at home, behind only 92 at Wormsley in 2014 and 99 at Taunton in 2006.
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