The women’s cricket teams of India and England are currently competing in a single Test match at Lord’s. Deepti Sharma delivered an impressive performance on Friday, scoring a half-century that helped the Indian team reach a total of 285 runs.
She credited the top-order batswomen for their contributions, especially praising Smriti Mandhana.
Mandhana played a stellar innings, scoring 83 runs, while Jemimah Rodrigues added 35 runs and captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed 58 runs. Deepti also made a significant impact with her 57 runs off 87 balls. Before the day’s play concluded, Indian bowlers made a strong start by dismissing Tammy Beaumont for just 2 runs. England managed to score 21 runs for the loss of one wicket.
After the match, Deepti expressed her happiness about contributing at a crucial time for the team. She noted that their partnership was made possible due to the solid start provided by the top-order batswomen. Deepti stated, “Our top order batted excellently. Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, and the other batswomen managed the innings well. Their performance gave us a strong foundation, allowing us to build significant partnerships later.”
She described the pitch as challenging for both batting and bowling. Deepti mentioned that the wicket was offering turn, and at times, the ball kept low, while other deliveries had extra bounce. Both batsmen and bowlers need to remain vigilant with every delivery. She added, “This wicket does not behave consistently. Sometimes the ball turns, sometimes it stays low, and at other times it bounces more. It will be crucial for us to take advantage of these conditions on the second day.”
Deepti lauded Smriti Mandhana for her composure and responsibility during difficult situations, helping stabilize the innings. She remarked, “Smriti batted beautifully. Several batswomen got out early, and at that moment, she took responsibility and displayed great character through her game.”
The Indian all-rounder believes that the assistance bowlers received from the pitch on the first day can be capitalized on the second day as well. She emphasized that if Indian bowlers maintain the right line and length, they can keep the pressure on England. Deepti stated, “Our bowling is our biggest strength. If we keep bowling in the right areas, we can fully exploit the turn and bounce available from the pitch.”
Deepti also expressed her joy about the historic occasion of a women’s Test match being played at Lord’s for the first time. She noted that women’s cricket has made rapid progress in recent years, and players are receiving more recognition than ever before. She hopes that the Indian team will continue to perform well with this spirit and inspire future generations.