India’s ‘revolution’ at Lord’s. (Photo- GETTY)
India Women Historical Lords Test: The Indian women’s cricket team registered its name in golden letters in the pages of history at Lord’s, which is known as the Mecca of cricket. In the first women’s Test match held at the historic Lord’s ground, India registered a historic victory by defeating host England by a huge margin of 270 runs. On the basis of unmatched and clinical performance in every department of the game, the Indian team completely defeated England in the ‘Home of Cricket’.
India won in the first session on the fourth day
On the fourth and last day of the match, the Indian team needed only 4 wickets to win. England started its second innings at 130 runs for 6 wickets. England’s batsmen struggled for about 90 minutes in the morning session, but could not achieve a target like a mountain of 457 runs. England’s second innings was bundled out for 186 runs in 62.5 overs and a wave of celebration ran from the field to the Indian dressing room.
Earlier, after scoring 285 runs in its first innings, India had bundled out England for 170 runs. After this, India scored 341 runs at the loss of 7 wickets in the second innings also. Then after declaring the innings, England were given a target of 457 runs. That means all the days of the match were in the name of Team India.
Why is this victory special and historic?
For the first time, 142 years after the first men’s Test match was played at Lord’s, a women’s Test match was organized here. On this very first page of history, the Indian team registered its name in golden letters forever by defeating a strong team like England. This victory proved that women’s cricket deserves as big and historic stages as men’s cricket.
Women now occupy Lord’s Honors Board
In the cricket world, getting name on the Honors Board of Lord’s is considered to be the biggest achievement in any player’s career. Till now, only the names of male legends were on this board, but this one match has changed it. Yastika Bhatia became the first female batsman in the world to score a Test century at Lord’s. Also, she is only the second left-handed batsman from India to score a Test century at Lord’s after former great captain Sourav Ganguly. Due to which his name has now been written on the Honors Board of Lord’s.
Young fast bowler Kranti Gaur took 5 wickets for 37 runs in England’s first innings. With this, she became the first female cricketer in the world to take 5 wickets in a test match at Lord’s and registered her name on the honors board. He took a total of 7 wickets in the entire match.
Beginning of a new era in test cricket
In women’s cricket, formats like T20 and ODI are generally given more importance. Women’s teams get very few opportunities to play test matches. In such a situation, the discipline, technique and passion shown by both the teams in this match that lasted for four days on a ground like Lord’s, has forced the cricket boards around the world to think that the Test format should be organized regularly in women’s cricket also.
Testimony of great giants
On the last day of this historic match, great cricketer Sachin Tendulkar gave the Gurumantra of victory to the Indian players and enjoyed the match sitting in the stands with ICC Chairman Jay Shah. After the match, Sachin coming on the field and shaking hands with the players and celebrating this moment shows that this victory is going to give women’s cricket a new respect and identity in the sports world.
