India on the brink of a historic Lord’s Test win after Yastika Bhatia’s record century

Yastika Bhatia Indian Dough (Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images) India Women moved to the brink of a historic first Test win at Lord’s after a dominant third day, powered by Yastika Bhatia’s record maiden century before the bowlers reduced England to 130/6 in pursuit of an improbable 457-run target.With just four wickets away from scripting history at the Home of Cricket, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side ended the day firmly in control despite spirited lower-order resistance from Amy Jones and Mady Villiers.

Yastika makes history at Home of Cricket

India continued Day 3 with a healthy lead in the first innings and continued to pile on the runs despite England enjoying a better opening session with the ball. Lauren Bell removed Smriti Mandhana (70) early before also dismissing Jemimah Rodrigues. Sophie Ecclestone then trapped Harmanpreet Kaur lbw as England briefly clawed their way back into the contest.However, Yastika Bhatia remained undeterred. Displaying remarkable poise and elegant stroke play, the left-hander brought up her maiden Test century to become the first ever woman to score a Test hundred at Lord’s. Her memorable knock of 113 off 158 balls also became the highest score by an Indian woman in the third or fourth innings of a Test match.England spinner Sophie Ecclestone battled tirelessly to complete her fourth five-wicket haul in women’s Tests but lacked support from the other end as India continued to dominate.

Richa Ghosh provides late fireworks

After Bhatia’s departure, wicketkeeper-batsman Richa Ghosh injected fresh momentum into the innings with a blistering unbeaten 50 off 52 balls, taking the onslaught to England’s bowlers. With India ahead of 450, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur declared the innings at 341/7, leaving England with a mammoth target of 457 runs to survive or chase.

Indian pacers are tearing through England’s top order

Indian bowlers wasted little time in tightening their grip on the competition.Debutant Kranti Gaud and Sayali Satghare produced another excellent spell with the new ball as they removed openers Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier in the opening four overs. Beaumont’s dismissal also marked the end of her international career, while former captain Heather Knight, playing her last Test before retirement, was later dismissed by Kranti Gaud and received a moving guard of honor from the Indian team as she departed.England’s problems were compounded when Sneh Rana bowled Nat Sciver-Brunt with a beauty before Sayali broke Alice Capsey’s defense to reduce the home side to 59/5.

Jones, Villiers are delaying the inevitable

Just when India looked set to wrap up the match on the third night, Amy Jones and Mady Villiers put up a determined fightback. The duo put together a resilient partnership of 67 runs, thwarting the Indian attack and briefly keeping England’s hopes alive.The stand was finally broken in spectacular fashion when Richa Ghosh took a stunning close catch at silly point to get Villiers out off the bowling of Sneh Rana. Jones continued her resistance, bringing up a gritty half-century, but England still ended the day in deep trouble on 130/6, requiring a further 327 runs with just four wickets in hand.