Australia had hosted England for the first ever Women’s Test match, back in 1934/35. Over the next forty years, Women’s Test matches were limited to England, Australia, and New Zealand. Then, in 1976, Women’s Test cricket saw two new additions, in West Indies and India.
How it began
West Indies hosted Australia for their first ever Test series. That ended in a 0-0 draw. They then travelled to India under Louise Brown, a venerable sporting personality in the history of Trinidad & Tobago.
In India in the 1960s and early 1970s, women’s cricket used to be largely unstructured. The foundation of Women’s Cricket Association of India in 1973 can be considered as the formal beginning of women’s cricket of India. They welcomed the West Indians for a six-Test series during the winter of 1976/77.
The Indian team was led by Shantha Rangaswamy, and featured future stalwarts like Diana Edulji, Shubhangi Kulkarni, and Fowzieh Khalili. These were three-day games.
After three drawn Test matches at Bangalore, Madras, and Delhi, the teams travelled to Patna for the fourth Test match. The first three matches were all played in Men’s Test venues, and had decent attendance.
Indian captain leads the show
History was created on 17 November 1976, when Brown and Rangaswamy walked out to toss at the Moin-ul-Haq Stadium, Patna. West Indies won the toss and decided to bat first.
Brown opened batting with Gloria Gill, while Rangaswamy opened bowling with Runa Basu. Rangaswamy soon provided early inroads, taking out Gill and Menota Tekah for ducks. The score read 8/2.
There was some resistance from the West Indies middle order, but they lost two wickets Patricia Whittaker (20) and Brown (19) on the score of 39. This was the biggest stand for the tourists, as they were bowled out for 127 in the 61 st ove. Yolande Geddes-Hall, the Jamaican wicketkeeper, top-scored with an unbeaten 32.
For India Women, after Rangaswamy’s early blows, the other eight wickets were shared by the spinners. Diana Edulji (3-24) finished as the most successful bowler, Kulkarni picked up 3-43, and Sharmila Chakraborty 2-23.
Small but important lead for hosts
The batting was not easy for the hosts as well. They laboured their way to 161/9 in over 100 overs before declaring Rangaswamy declared. Khalili was the top scorer with 58, while Rangaswamy scored 32. Their fourth-wicket partnership of 47 was the highest of the match.
Vivalyn Latty-Scott bowled 35.5 overs to pick up 3 for 65. Whittaker got 2-13 and Dorothy Hobson 2-36.
West Indies collapse
But even a lead of 34 turned out to be significant in a match this low-scoring. Once again Rangaswamy provided the early breakthrough, dismiss Brown for just 2. Kulkarni then got Tekah and Hobson cheaply as West Indies finished day two on 24/3, still 10 runs behind.
The Indians maintained the pressure on Day 3 as well. The West Indians hung on but failed to get the scoreboard going. They were eventually bowled out for just 88 in 76.3 overs. Gloria Gill top-scored with 34, and only two others could reach double figures. Kulkarni (4-14) and Chakraborty (3-17) were the destroyers yet again.
Edulji helps India create history
The Indians required only 55 runs for their maiden Test victory. They had a shaky start. They started losing wickets and lost half their side by 25, against a rampant Nora St Rose (3-21). Khalili scored 16 of these runs before getting run out; Rangaswamy got just 1.
It was a tense moment for the 25,000 Indian fans at the ground, but Edulji, only 20, and Susan Itticheria, 17, did not cave in. They gradually guided India to safety, getting the required 30 runs. Edulji finished on 20 and Itticheria on 17. A few byes also helped India’s cause. They were also assisted by a few byes.
The fans were ecstatic when the winning runs were scored and vociferously cheered for the home team.
Although West Indies won the last Test of the series, at Jammu, to leave the Indian shores with a 1-1 result. However, it was a great beginning for the journey of Women’s cricket in India.
Brief scores
West Indies Women 127 (Yolande Geddes-Hall 32*; Diana Edulji 3-24) and 88 (Gloria Gill 34; Shubhangi Kulkarni 4-14) lost to India Women 161/9 decl. (Fowzieh Khalili 58; Vivalyn Latty-Scott 3-65) and 55/5 (Diana Edulji 20*; Nora St Rose 3-21) by 5 wickets.