Smriti Mandhana’s aggressive half-century in her 300th international match led India to 122/3 in 25 overs at lunch on the first day of the one-off Test against England at Lord’s. Despite England taking three key wickets, Smriti shone with nine boundaries and a six, dominating the play. The historic match marked the first women’s Test at Lord’s.
England, choosing to bowl first, made an early breakthrough as Shafali Verma fell for a duck to Lauren Filer. Yastika Bhatia, with 12 runs, supported Smriti before falling to Bell’s impressive delivery. Jemimah Rodrigues then partnered with Mandhana, stabilizing India’s innings against England’s erratic bowling.
Smriti showcased her prowess by reaching a quick half-century off 50 balls, becoming the first woman to achieve this feat at Lord’s. The 64-run partnership was broken when Jemimah departed for 35. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (14 not out) joined Smriti to guide India to a strong position by lunch, with a score of 122/3 in 25 overs.
