Four Indian batters’ assured half-centuries, along with Harmanpreet Kaur’s 49, boosted the hosts to a great start in the one-off Test against England at the DY Patil Stadium on Thursday (December 14). Half-centuries by debutants Shubha Satheesh and Jemimah Rodrigues on their way to century stands were followed by Yastika Bhatia’s 66 and Deepti Sharma’s unbeaten 60 as India retained control on the first day.

Having elected to bat, India got off to a quick start, with Smriti Mandhana creaming two quick cover drives for boundaries. After Shafali Verma had cut her over point for a four, she punched one down the line off Lauren Bell. However, the Indian opening pair left in short succession. Mandhana inside edged Bell’s delivery outside off the stumps, while Kate Cross’ outswinger took up Shafali.

However, Shubha and Rodrigues quickly seized control of the situation. They kept scoring boundaries at regular intervals, primarily through the offside, without attempting to be offensive. Singles and twos were readily available as England established an offensive field early on. The pair had their fair share of luck, with edges soaring past English fielders, but they remained largely unscathed as they shifted the tide in India’s favour prior lunch.

Shubha, who had shown excellent technique against both pace and spin in her international debut, had reached her half-century in 49 balls with a straight drive for a boundary.
She was off after Lunch when she delayed a pull to mid-wicket off Sophie Eccelstone. Jemimah arrived at the milestone soon following a drive through the extra cover region for a boundary, but she also fell in her 60s, undone by Bell’s inswinger that hit her stumps.

Despite losing two wickets in rapid succession, Harmanpreet and Yastika kept the momentum going. consistent though there was turn and some extra bounce for the spinners, who mostly bowled in good channels, the consistent pace kept the Indian hitters comfortable. The pair got through the post-lunch session unscathed and went on to clinch the day’s second century-stand.
Even when the scoring rate slowed temporarily, there was a steady flow of boundaries. Soon after, Tea, Harmanpreet, and Yastika launched an attack on Lauren Filer, hitting two boundaries and a six against the pacer. The southpaw also had some good fortune when an edged drive was dropped at slips by a diving Heather Knight.

Nonetheless, her partner was not pleased because she fell one short of her maiden Test fifty. Harmanpreet’s bat got jammed just before the popping crease as he attempted to return to the crease following a refused single, and he was run out by Danni Wyatt’s direct throw. Yastika became the third hitter to be struck out in the 60s when she top edged a sweep off Charlie Dean and caught.
England had both set batters sent back to the pavilion in rapid succession for the third time that day, but failed to capitalize. This time, thanks to Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana. They, like the other Indian batters, blended caution and aggression well and kept the innings moving. Rana’s strokeplay wasn’t as fluid as the rest of the team’s, but she still managed to add 30 runs in a half-century stand with Deepti. She was knocked out late in the day’s play, but India had already taken control of the situation.

Deepti finished unbeaten on 60 with the backing of Pooja Vastrakar.
Brief Scores: India 410/7 (Shubha Satheesh 69, Jemima Rodrigues 68, Yastika Bhatia 66, Deepti Sharma 60*; Lauren Bell 2-64) vs England