Six for Kranti Gaud, Smriti Mandhana’s unbeaten fifty leaves India completely in control on Day 2 at Lord’s

Smriti Mandhana (Image: IANS) India strengthened their grip on a historic women’s one-off Test at Lord’s with a near-flawless second day, leaving England staring at a monumental task. After being bowled out for just 170 to secure a 115-run lead in the first innings, the visitors stormed out with authority to reach 154/1 in the second innings, stretching their total advantage to 269 runs with nine wickets still in hand.If the opening day belonged to India’s experienced batsmen, Day 2 was defined by Kranti Gaud’s sensational spell before Smriti Mandhana again highlighted why she remains the backbone of India’s batting line-up.

Kranti Gaud creates career-defining magic

England resumed the morning at 21/1 hoping to wipe out India’s first innings total of 285. Instead, they ran into an inspired Indian attack. Gaud struck early to remove Maia Bouchier before Sneh Rana broke a promising partnership by dismissing Amy Jones, whose brisk 52 off 62 balls was the only bright spot in England’s innings.Once Jones left, English resistance quickly disappeared. Gaud relentlessly attacked the stumps, drawing movement from Lord’s surface and exposing the lower order with disciplined bowling. She finished with a memorable five-wicket haul and became the youngest Indian fast bowler to register a Test five, breaking Jhulan Goswami’s previous record.Her spell also marked the first five-wicket haul by a pace bowler in an England women’s Test since Ellyse Perry’s 6/32 in 2015, while England’s 170 became their third-lowest first innings total against India at home.

Mandhana and Shafali closed the door on England

Armed with a healthy lead in the first innings, India resisted any temptation to chase quick runs. Instead, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma batted with composure and blunted the England attack with the new ball before gaining control.The pair added 88 runs for the opening wicket, frustrating the hosts almost throughout. They registered their seventh 50-plus partnership in women’s Tests, the most by any pair in the history of the format, overtaking former Indian duo Sandhya Agarwal and Sudha Shah. Shafali looked fluent before falling for 33 as she tried to take on Sophie Ecclestone, but her dismissal did little to slow India’s progress.

Mandhana again leads from the front

Mandhana continued her excellent Test run with another confident innings to remain unbeaten on 69 at stumps. The left-hander mixed patience with elegant stroke play and rarely allowed England’s bowlers to mount any sustained pressure.She then found another reliable partner in Yastic Bhatia who put together a calm 39 not out. Together, the duo added an unbeaten fifty-run stand to push India’s lead well past 250 and leave England with little encouragement going into the third day.

India eye a historic win at the home of cricket

With a lead of 269 runs, nine wickets still intact and six sessions remaining, India head into Day 3 firmly in command. shiftsScoreThe best artistsIndia Women – 1st Innings285 all outSmriti Mandhana 83, Harmanpreet Kaur 58, Deepti Sharma 57; Sophie Ecclestone 3/68England Women – 1st Innings170 all outAmy Jones 52, Nat Sciver-Brunt 44; Kranti Gaud 5/37, Sayali Satghare 2/40, Sneh Rana 2/41India Women – 2nd Innings154/1 (42 overs)Smriti Mandhana 69*, Yastika Bhatia 39*, Shafali Verma 33; Sophie Ecclestone 1/46Match situationIndia Women lead by 269 runs9 wickets in hand