England faces significant defeat against India in one-off Test at Lord’s

By Aditya Rao — 12 July 2026 — 3 min read

England is on the verge of a substantial defeat against India in the one-off Women’s Test at Lord’s. Heading into the fourth and final day, England trails by 327 runs after India declared their second innings at 341-7, setting a target of 457 runs. The hosts concluded day three at 130-6.

The day saw the final innings for two prominent England batters, Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight. Beaumont was dismissed for a golden duck, while Knight fell for 13 runs. Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt also departed cheaply, bowled for 11, contributing to England’s early struggle at 59-5.

A partnership between Mady Villiers and Amy Jones provided some resistance, adding 67 runs for the sixth wicket. However, Villiers’ innings ended with a catch by Richa Ghosh shortly before the close of play. Jones remained unbeaten on 52 runs.

India’s Dominance and Bhatia’s Century

India’s commanding position was largely established by Yastika Bhatia, who scored a majestic 113 runs. Her century marked her as the first female Test centurion at Lord’s. Bhatia’s performance overshadowed her overnight batting partner, Smriti Mandhana, who was dismissed for 70 runs earlier in the day.

England’s bowling showed some improvement in the morning session, with Lauren Bell taking wickets. However, any hopes of a comeback diminished after Bell left the field due to abdominal soreness. Bhatia capitalised on the bowling of Lauren Filer and Issy Wong, reaching her first international hundred. Ghosh then contributed a counter-attacking fifty, further solidifying India’s advantage before Harmanpreet Kaur declared the innings.

Sophie Ecclestone achieved a notable milestone, finishing with figures of 5-118, becoming the first Englishwoman to be named on the Lord’s Test honours board. Despite this individual achievement, the day was marked by India’s overall dominance.

Farewell to Key Players

The match holds particular significance as it marks the conclusion of Heather Knight’s international career. Knight will retire from international cricket at the end of the ongoing Test. Her career spans 320 caps, includes 8,017 international runs, and features six centuries across various formats. She led England in 199 matches between 2016 and 2025, and captained the team to victory in the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.

Knight expressed gratitude for her journey as an England cricketer, acknowledging the difficulty of leaving the team environment that has been a constant for 16 years. Her career highlights include a 157-run innings against Australia in 2013, which helped secure a draw and set up an Ashes triumph. She also scored an unbeaten 168 against Australia in 2022, her Test career-best, anchoring a significant ninth-wicket stand.

In One Day Internationals, Knight’s maiden century, 106 runs against Pakistan in the 2017 World Cup, was crucial in setting up a record partnership with Nat Sciver-Brunt. She also scored 109 runs against India in the 2025 World Cup, securing a narrow victory. In T20 Internationals, she made an unbeaten 108 against Thailand in the 2020 T20 World Cup, becoming the first woman to score international centuries in all three formats. Her 58 runs against South Africa in the 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final also contributed to a significant win.

The departure of Beaumont and Knight signals a new phase for England cricket. Beaumont’s final innings ended with a golden duck, but she received a standing ovation from the crowd. Kranti Gaud’s delivery, which took the off stump, led to a guard of honour for Beaumont. Knight’s dismissal to Gaud also prompted a guard of honour, highlighting the respect for these stalwarts as England faces a future without them.

India’s bowlers, particularly Gaud, who has taken seven wickets in the match, proved effective by maintaining a straight line, a tactic that England struggled to counter throughout the match. England’s challenges with adapting to the conditions and concerns about their fast bowling depth were evident, particularly with Wong and Filer’s struggles. The match is set to conclude on the fourth day.

Source: bbc.com