Yastika Bhatia etched her name in the history books on Sunday, becoming the first woman ever to score a Test century at Lord's, as India Women dominated Day 3 of the inaugural women's Test at the 'Home of Cricket' against England.

Resuming with a healthy first-innings lead, India continued to pile on the runs despite England enjoying a better opening session with the ball. Lauren Bell removed Smriti Mandhana (70) early before also dismissing Jemimah Rodrigues. Sophie Ecclestone then trapped Harmanpreet Kaur lbw as England briefly clawed their way back into the contest.

However, Yastika Bhatia remained unfazed. Displaying remarkable composure and elegant strokeplay, the left-hander brought up her maiden Test century to become the first-ever woman to score a Test hundred at Lord's. Her memorable knock of 113 off 158 balls also became the highest score by an Indian woman in the third or fourth innings of a Test match.

"She had seen it all on this tour of the UK. A return from injury, retired out in a T20I against England, a tough World Cup campaign and a peach that bowled her in the first innings here at Lord's," reported Cricbuzz, highlighting the redemption arc she completed with this monumental innings.

Following Bhatia's departure, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh injected fresh momentum into the innings with a brisk unbeaten 50 off 52 balls, taking the attack to the England bowlers. With India's lead swelling beyond 450, captain Harmanpreet Kaur declared the innings at 341/7, leaving England with a mammoth 457-run target to survive or chase down.

Indian Pacers Tear Through England Top Order

India's bowlers wasted little time in tightening their grip on the contest. Debutant Kranti Gaud and Sayali Satghare produced another outstanding new-ball spell, removing openers Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier inside the opening four overs. Beaumont's dismissal also marked the end of her international career, while former captain Heather Knight, playing her final Test before retirement, was later dismissed by Kranti Gaud.

The seam movement that Kranti Gaud and Sayali Satghare extracted in the first ten overs of the fourth innings (over 1 degree) was more than what it was in the same phase across the first three innings. Nearly 89 per cent of their deliveries through that first spell landed in the good and hard length zones as they allowed England little breathing space.

England's problems deepened when Sneh Rana bowled Nat Sciver-Brunt with a beauty before Sayali breached Alice Capsey's defence, reducing the hosts to 59/5.

Jones and Villiers Delay the Inevitable

Just when India appeared set to wrap up the match on the third evening itself, Amy Jones and Mady Villiers mounted a determined fightback. The duo stitched together a resilient 67-run partnership, frustrating the Indian attack and briefly keeping England's hopes alive. The stand was eventually broken in spectacular fashion as Richa Ghosh pulled off a stunning close-in catch at silly point to dismiss Villiers off Sneh Rana's bowling.

Jones continued her resistance, bringing up a gritty half-century, but England still finished the day in deep trouble at 130/6, requiring another 327 runs with only four wickets in hand.

With just four wickets separating them from scripting history at the Home of Cricket, Harmanpreet Kaur's side ended the day firmly in control despite a spirited lower-order resistance from Amy Jones and Mady Villiers.