India’s Yastika Bhatia created history at Lord’s Cricket Ground by becoming the first woman cricketer to score a Test century. Achieving this milestone on the third day of India’s one-off Test match against England, Yastika displayed skill and grace in her innings, reaching the century mark in 145 balls with 12 boundaries. Overcoming a career-threatening injury, she returned to international cricket during the ongoing England tour.
After a strong start in the morning, Yastika continued her impressive performance post-lunch, confidently reaching her century. Despite an early scare when a delivery clipped her off-stump without dislodging the bails, she maintained her composure and played strategically, focusing on boundaries in the straight and cover regions. The emotional moment of reaching her century led Yastika to drop to her knees and kiss the turf at Lord’s, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.
Yastika’s achievement adds her name to the prestigious Lord’s Honours Board, alongside her teammate Kranti Gaud, who had earlier secured her place with a remarkable five-wicket haul. Former Australian cricketer Mel Jones described the moment as monumental, emphasizing the significance of Yastika’s century at Lord’s and the lasting memory it creates.
