Yastika Bhatia becomes first woman to score Test century at Lord's
text_fields
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia became the first woman to score a Test century at Lord's as India declared their second innings at 341 for seven on the third day of the one-off Women's Test against England, setting the hosts a target of 457.
Resuming the post-lunch session on 91, Yastika reached her maiden Test hundred with a single off Issy Wong in the first over after the break. She was eventually dismissed for 113 off 158 balls, hitting 14 fours.
After the dismissals of Deepti Sharma and Yastika, Richa Ghosh accelerated the scoring with an unbeaten 50 off 52 balls, including eight boundaries, registering her third Test half-century as India declared after 86.3 overs.
England spinner Sophie Ecclestone was the pick of the bowlers with 5 for 118 from 33.3 overs, claiming her fourth five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Lauren Bell took 2 for 27.
Earlier in the day, India resumed on 154 for 1 but lost overnight batter Smriti Mandhana for 70 after she added just one run to her overnight score. Bell then dismissed Jemimah Rodrigues for 3, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur was trapped lbw by Ecclestone for 16.
Yastika held the innings together after the early wickets and converted her overnight 39 into a historic century, putting India in a commanding position.
Brief scores: India 285 and 341/7 declared in 86.3 overs (Yastika Bhatia 113, Smriti Mandhana 70, Richa Ghosh 50 not out; Sophie Ecclestone 5/118, Lauren Bell 2/27). England 170. Target: 457.