Middlesex Women make history at Lord's with first domestic women's game at Home of Cricket

England Women lifted the World Cup trophy in front of a sell-out Lord's crowd last summer and, 275 days on, another historic moment in the women's game was witnessed at the Home of Cricket.

Middlesex Women walked on to the hallowed turf on Tuesday to play on the main pitch for the first time in their 85-year history, in a T20 game against an MCC XI that included former England captain Charlotte Edwards and wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Taylor.

The two teams were greeted by the biggest crowd for a women's domestic match in England as over 5,000 children in the Grandstand cheered them on, many getting their first taste of cricket, and a healthy number of MCC and Middlesex members in attendance too.

They were treated to a cracking contest too. The MCC Women side posted a competitive 145-3, batting first - Elysa Hubbard and Alexandra Rogers, who hit an impressive 72 off 45 balls, sharing in a century opening stand - before Middlesex, in front of their home crowd, clinched the win in thrilling fashion with one ball to spare.

Their run-chase had looked to be faltering when England's Fran Wilson was bowled for 13, leaving her side 58-2 but, requiring 30 off the final four overs, young Maia Bouchier kept her cool on her first outing at Lord's, finishing unbeaten on 39 to steer the hosts to a memorable victory.

Men's domestic cricket has long been played at Lord's, while the National Village Cricket Cup Final, Harrow and Eton boys and Army v Navy matches are also hosted annually.

But, following England Women's sensational World Cup victory on July 23 last year, the continuous talk of finding the time for Middlesex Women to play on the main pitch at their home ground finally came to fruition.

Middlesex Women have before played on the main pitch of a Test ground, turning out at the Oval against Surrey for the first two years of the annual London Cup T20 match between the sides in 2015 and 2016.

The MCC only accepted female members in 1998 after being founded 211 years earlier in 1787.

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The day had a typical Lord's feel to it, with overcast conditions occasionally breaking for a sunny spell and Steven Finn delighting some of his younger fans as he went through various fitness drills on the Nursery Ground.

And, the commitment to Women's cricket between the MCC and Middlesex seemed clear, with their efforts to engage with the schoolchildren far-reaching, from the World Cup trophy being on show and activities set-up on the Nursery Ground and in the indoor school.

The day before the exhibition match, former England batter Lydia Greenway held a cricket masterclass for a number of Physical Education teachers at schools which currently do not offer girls cricket but are looking to take up the option in the coming months.

Women and girl's cricket remains a key area of focus for the England and Wales Cricket Board as well as all 18 counties but one of the MCC's biggest contentions over the past few years in being unable to schedule matches for Middlesex Women on the main pitch has been the amount of cricket already played on it.

Much of women's domestic cricket is played at smaller grounds, with Middlesex Women often playing at Radlett and Guildford, which can restrict the turnout and be more challenging for spectators to get to.

The thousands of schoolchildren who took over the Grandstand remained engaged throughout - having begun their day watching Marylebone Maidens taking on Lord's Ladies - wildly celebrating a crowd catch from one of their teachers after Taylor struck a six for the MCC Women late on in their innings, before Middlesex chased down their target.