Spin bowler Ecclestone (3-68) removed all-rounder Deepti Sharma (57) and tailenders Sayali Satghare (1) and Kranti Gaud (1) to increase her haul across 10 Tests, 84 ODIs and 113 T20Is to 338, above previous record holder Katherine Sciver-Brunt (335).
Only India’s Deepti (357) and compatriot Jhulan Goswami (355) have more wickets in women’s internationals than Ecclestone, with the England star also eclipsing Australia great Ellyse Perry (336) during her late-innings burst in London on Friday evening.
- Stream England vs India Test contract-free with NOW
- As it happened on day one of the historic Lord’s Test
- Listen to episodes of the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast
Ecclestone’s three breakthroughs came amid India losing their final four wickets for 11 runs after a previous wobble of 3-39 from 190-3 once an 89-run stand between Smriti Mandhana (83) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (58) had been broken as the set batters and the hard-hitting Richa Ghosh (13) fell.
England came out to bat around 45 minutes before stumps with Tammy Beaumont – playing her last match for her country after a 17-year international career – pinned lbw for two by Gaud, who would also have ousted Heather Knight (1no) on one in the same fashion had India reviewed, with her delivery poised to clatter the stumps.
The hosts closed on 21-1 – Maia Bouchier is 17 not out after a brace of boundaries – cutting their deficit to 264.
The day was also notable for an excellent 19-over spell from England debutant Maddy Villiers, whose 2-79 included bowling Harmanpreet through the gate with a gem of a delivery on the cusp of tea.
More to follow.
Watch day two of the standalone Women’s Test between England and India at Lord’s live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10.30am on Saturday (11am first ball). Stream cricket contract-free with NOW.
