Kranti Gaud’s six-for, Smriti Mandhana’s unbeaten fifty left India in complete control on Lord’s day 2 | Cricket News:

Smriti Mandhana (Photo: IANS)

India strengthened their grip on the historic one-off women’s Test at Lord’s with a near-flawless second day, leaving England staring at a big task. After bowling the hosts out for just 170 to take a 115-run first-innings lead, the visitors felt the authority to reach 154/1 in their second innings, stretching their total advantage to 269 runs with nine wickets remaining.If the opening day belonged to India’s seasoned batters, Day 2 was defined by Kranti Gaud’s outstanding spell before Smriti Mandhana once again emphasized why she remains the backbone of India’s batting line-up.

Kranti Gaud cast a career-defining spell

England resumed the morning of 21/1, hoping to wipe out India’s first innings total of 285. However, they encountered an inspired Indian attack. Gaud struck early to remove Maia Bouchier before Sneh Rana broke a promising partnership by dismissing Amy Jones, whose powerful 52 off 62 balls was the lone bright spot in England’s innings.When Jones left, resistance in England quickly disappeared. Gaud relentlessly attacked the stumps, took the movement out of Lord’s face and exposed the lower order with disciplined seam bowling. She finished with a memorable five-wicket haul, becoming the youngest Indian woman fast bowler to register a Test five-for, surpassing Jhulan Goswami’s previous record.Her spell also marked the first five-wicket haul by a pace bowler in a women’s Test in England since Ellyse Perry’s 6/32 in 2015, while England’s 170 became the third-lowest first-innings total against India at home.

Mandhana and Shafali closed the door on England

Armed with a healthy first-innings lead, India resisted any temptation to chase quick runs. However, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma batted with composure, thwarting England’s fresh attack before continuing to take control.The pair added 88 runs for the opening wicket, frustrating the hosts for most of the session. In doing so, they registered their seventh 50-plus partnership in Women’s Tests, the most by any pair in the history of the format, surpassing former Indian duo Sandhya Agarwal and Sudha Shah. Shafali looked impressive before falling on 33, trying to fight off Sophie Ecclestone, but her dismissal did little to slow India’s progress.

Mandhana leads from the front again

Mandhana continued her amazing Test run with another assured innings, remaining unbeaten on 69 at stumps. The left-hander mixed patience with elegant strokeplay, rarely allowing England’s bowlers to build any sustained pressure.He then found another reliable partner in Yastika Bhatia, who compiled a calm 39 not out. Together, the duo added an unbeaten fifty-run stand to take India’s lead past 250 and leave England with little motivation heading into Day 3.

India’s Historic Eye Win at the Home of Cricket

With a 269-run lead, nine wickets still to go and six sessions to go, India head into Day 3 firmly in command.