India's women's cricket team has achieved a historic first, winning a Test match at Lord's Cricket Ground. The team's 270-run victory over England is the largest ever by a visiting side in a women's Test.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her players repeatedly dedicated the triumph to the pioneers of women's cricket in India, whose work over 50 years laid the foundation for this moment. The victory extends India's unbeaten Test record in England to ten matches.
Several players made personal history. Yastika Bhatia scored the first women's Test century at Lord's, while seam bowler Kranti Gaud took five wickets to become the first woman on the venue's famous Honours Boards. Both come from small towns in India, symbolizing the sport's growth.
The match drew a record cumulative attendance of 37,846 spectators. The team's journey is traced back to the founding of the Women's Cricket Association of India in 1973, which nurtured the first generations of players with limited resources.
Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana was the leading run-scorer of the match. The win follows India's maiden Women's ODI World Cup victory last year.
