India’s all-rounder Deepti Sharma commended the team’s top-order batsmen for setting a solid foundation as her resilient half-century helped India reach 285 on the first day of the historic women’s Test at Lord’s. Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Deepti’s contributions guided India to 350-6 after a shaky middle-order start, with Kranti Gaud dismissing Tammy Beaumont early on at 21-1.
Deepti attributed the crucial partnerships to the strong start by the top-order, emphasizing the pivotal role played by batters like Jemi, Harmanpreet, and Smriti in building the innings effectively. She acknowledged the challenging pitch conditions, noting the turn and inconsistent bounce, stating the need for adaptability as the match progresses.
Looking ahead to Day 2, Deepti highlighted the importance of maintaining focus and discipline in bowling, leveraging the pitch conditions that favor slight turn and variable bounce. She praised Mandhana’s resilient batting display and expressed confidence in India’s bowling strength to capitalize on the pitch behavior observed on the first day.
Playing at Lord’s in a Women’s Test for the first time, Deepti expressed pride in the evolution of women’s cricket in recent years, emphasizing the special significance of Test matches and the growth of the sport. With England trailing by 264 runs at 21-1 going into Day 2, India aims to build on their strong start and continue their positive momentum in the match.
