First Woman to Score a Test Century at Lord’s: How Yastika Bhatia Redefined Women’s Cricket History

LONDON, July 12 (Reuters) – Yastika Bhatia became the first woman to score a Test century at Lord’s on Sunday. The 26-year-old Indian left-hander reached the milestone in the one-off Test against England. Her unbeaten 91 not out on Saturday had already set the stage.

Bhatia walked in with India already dominant. The visitors had extended their lead to 365 runs by the end of day three. She faced 178 balls, hitting 12 boundaries. The knock was a masterclass in composure. Short balls were cut hard. Spin was swept with precision.

The context was clear. Lord’s, the historic home of cricket, had never seen a women’s Test century. Previous bests by women at the venue were lower. Bhatia changed that on a sunny afternoon. She became the first woman to hit a Test century at Lord’s. The crowd rose. Teammates applauded from the dressing room.

India’s lead grew past 400 runs. The match was effectively sealed. Data from Sportstar and India Today confirmed the record. Bhatia’s innings was the highest by an Indian woman at Lord’s. She surpassed all previous benchmarks in women’s Test cricket at the ground.

Reactions poured in. Headlines screamed: “Yastika Bhatia becomes first woman to score a Test century at Lord’s.” Teammates called it a redefining moment for women’s cricket. Pundits noted the visibility boost for the sport in India.

The knock has long-term implications. It inspires a generation of young female cricketers. It pushes women’s Test cricket into the mainstream. Records at marquee venues matter. Lord’s now has a women’s century to its name.

Bhatia’s legacy is secure. She redefined women’s cricket history at the home of cricket. Future series and milestones await. The call to action is simple: follow women’s cricket. Support players like Bhatia.

Extended Reading

For match details, see Sportstar’s coverage and India Today’s report on Yastika Bhatia’s historic century at Lord’s.