England v India: women’s Test, day three updates – live
England Women Face India in Day Three Thriller at Lord's
England v India - The cricketing world turned its attention to Lord's on July 12, 2026, as England and India battled through the third day of their Test match. While the on-field action provided plenty of drama, off-field developments added another layer of interest to proceedings. Brendon McCullum has been stood down from his position as England's Test head coach, a significant development that will surely be discussed in the coming days.
India's Dominant Position
By the 73rd over, India had established a commanding position with their total reaching 287 for six wickets. Yastika Bhatia had crafted a magnificent innings, eventually finishing on 113, while Richa Ghosh contributed 15 runs. The Indian lead had surpassed 400 runs, putting them firmly in cruise control despite losing a wicket in the final over described.
The commentary team noted that India's strategy appeared straightforward: bat normally for an hour, then accelerate for a second hour to potentially set England a target of 500 runs. Such a scenario would give India four sessions to bowl out their opponents, making it what the commentator described as an "easy game" when viewed from that perspective.
Ecclestone's Bowling Masterclass
England's bowler Ecclestone had been the standout performer throughout the day, bowling unchanged and accumulating four wickets. With the potential to reach eight wickets if the pattern continued, she had been instrumental in keeping India in check despite their aggressive batting approach.
One notable moment came when Bhatia attempted to increase the scoring rate with a powerful shot against Ecclestone. The attempt resulted in the ball being lifted straight into the air, where Mady Villiers took a grateful catch to dismiss the batter. This wicket brought India to six down and added to Ecclestone's impressive tally.
Bhatia's Century and Celebration
Yastika Bhatia's journey to three figures was marked by both skill and emotion. After being on 99, she found a gap to bring up her hundred. The celebration was initially muted, but a heartfelt embrace with her partner Deepti Sharma revealed the depth of feeling behind the achievement. The commentary praised both her batting and her personal life, noting the public acknowledgment of their relationship.
Meanwhile, Deepti Sharma had also contributed significantly, finishing with 10 runs before lunch. Together, the pair had built a substantial partnership that would prove crucial to India's position.
The Lord's Slope Debate
Amidst the cricketing action, a reader named Venkat raised an interesting question about Lord's famous slope. The commentary team engaged with this topic, with one commentator noting that the slope adds romance to the game. They questioned whether other sports would be played on slopes—suggesting that football on a slope would be "ludicrous" and tennis "laughable."
"I ask in all seriousness, as someone who has watched cricket with pleasure for over 30 years: will the pitch/ ground at Lord's ever be straightened so that we can take the mystique of 'the slope' out of the equation?!"
The commentator concluded that rather than removing the slope, perhaps other sports should adopt it instead, joking that they would watch more tennis if it were played on a hill.
Key Moments in the Final Overs
The 71st over saw runs flowing freely at Lord's, with eleven runs coming off Ecclestone's bowling. This included a half-chance that was slashed over Heather Knight at first slip. Interestingly, the commentary noted that Lauren Bell appeared to be sitting on the balcony in her training kit rather than her playing attire.
Earlier, in the 69th over, Richa Ghosh arrived at the crease and faced Ecclestone immediately. A big sweep from Sharma resulted in a caught-behind appeal, but the on-field umpire's decision to give her out was upheld after review, with the impact being called as "umpire's call."
As lunch approached, India had reached 250 runs, with the lead standing at 365. The commentary team prepared to hand over to Alex Reid for thirty minutes before Jim Wallace would take over around 2:40, ensuring continuous coverage of this compelling Test match.