India in strong position vs England women in Lords test , Kranti Gaud & Mandhana shines

 


India tightened their grip on the historic one-off Women's Test at Lord's with a dominant all-round display on Day 2, first bowling England out for 170 before reaching 154/1 in their second innings at stumps. Holding an overall lead of 269 runs, the visitors ended the day firmly in command and within touching distance of a famous victory.

England resumed the morning on 21/1, still trailing India's first-innings total of 285, but they were immediately put under pressure by an inspired Indian pace attack. Young seamer Kranti Gaud produced the spell of her career, exploiting the movement available to devastating effect. She removed England's top order with accuracy and pace, reducing the hosts to 47/4 before lunch. Nat Sciver-Brunt fought back with a determined 44, while wicketkeeper Amy Jones played the lone substantial innings with a gritty 52, attempting to rebuild alongside the lower order. However, India never allowed England to settle, and regular wickets ensured the innings folded for 170, handing India a valuable 115-run first-innings lead. Gaud finished with magnificent figures of 5 for 37, becoming the first woman to earn a place on the Lord's Test honours board with a five-wicket haul. Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma provided excellent support by maintaining relentless pressure from the other end.

Armed with a healthy lead, India's batters capitalised in the second innings. Smriti Mandhana once again looked in sublime touch, producing another elegant innings filled with crisp drives and authoritative strokeplay. Shafali after her first innings failure looked in good touch and played an enterprising innings of 33 before getting out . Shafali remained unbeaten on 69, continuing her outstanding match and frustrating England's bowlers with her flawless technique. She found an able partner in Yastika Bhatia, who compiled a composed 39 not out, and together they stitched an unbroken partnership that steadily increased India's advantage. Earlier, India lost only one wicket as England struggled to make inroads despite the efforts of Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Bell.

By the close of play, India had reached 154/1, extending their overall lead to 269 runs with nine second-innings wickets still in hand. The visitors now hold all the aces heading into Day 3. England face the daunting challenge of first restricting India's lead and then negotiating what is expected to be an increasingly difficult batting surface. With Kranti Gaud in outstanding rhythm, Mandhana batting beautifully, and India's spinners beginning to extract turn, Harmanpreet Kaur's side appears well placed to push for a memorable Test victory at the Home of Cricket.

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