Close India Women (21 for 0; Jain 5*, Shinde 14*) trail England Women (314 all out) by 293 runs In 1857, the city of Lucknow in northern India witnessed perhaps the most famous last stand in British military history, as a vastly outnumbered British garrison held out for over four months before being relieved by a column of bagpiping Scottish Highlanders. On the second day of the one-off Test at Lucknow, England's openers showed similar determination as they held on to break the women's world Test record for an opening stand. Only the bagpipes were missing.

From their overnight position of 150 for no wicket, Caroline Atkins and Arran Thompson marched past two major milestones - the record opening partnership for England against any opposition (164) and then the world record, a stand of 178 by Belinda Haggett and Belinda Clarke for Australia in 1990-91. Atkins and Thompson eventually reached 200 before being parted. Their partnership had lasted for 450 minutes and 123.2 overs when Atkins was run out for 90. Thompson went on to make 80 before being bowled.

If women's cricket were better publicised, the names Atkins and Thompson would now be mentioned in the same breath as Cowdrey and May or Atherton and Russell when epic feats of resistance are discussed. As it is, they have achieved something that very few novice Test openers have ever managed, whatever their gender.

And both are still students. Atkins has represented various Sussex age-group teams since she was 11. Now 21, she is studying sport in the community at Durham University, where her cricket is developing under the watchful eye of Graeme "Foxy" Fowler. Thompson, of Lancashire, is 20 and in her second year at Sheffield University, studying sports science. Thesis on slow scoring, anyone?

After Atkins had finally relinquished her post, England's batting fragility re-emerged. After making only 106, 71, and 78 in the first three matches of the one-day series, today they lost all 10 wickets for 114 to be 314 all out, with the Indian spinner Neetu David receiving some belated reward for 51 overs of toil, with figures of 4 for 88.

India's openers survuived a tricky three-quarters of an hour to reach 21 without loss at the close. But Atkins and Thompson have given their beleaguered team an outside chance of victory - and some self-respect.

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