Freya Kemp of England hits the ball to the boundary for four during the 2nd Women’s Vitality IT20 match between England and India at the Seat Unique Stadium on May 30, 2026, in Bristol, England.
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All-rounder Freya Kemp produced a decisive performance with both bat and ball as England bounced back to beat India by 26 runs in the second Women’s T20 International and level the three-match series 1-1 here on Saturday.
After rescuing England with a blistering unbeaten 39 off 13 balls at the death, Kemp returned figures of 2/15 with wickets of Smriti Mandhana and last T20I’s star Jemimah Rodrigues in two overs as India lost their way to finish at 142/9 in pursuit of 169.
The series-deciding third T20I will be played in Taunton on Tuesday.
India had done well to restrict England to 168/5 for most of the innings, with young left-arm spinner Shree Charani once again impressing with figures of 3/25.
But Kemp’s late assault, including two sixes and two fours in a 24-run final over off Arundhati Reddy, helped England plunder 39 runs from the last two overs and swing the momentum in their favour.
Chasing 169, India began brightly as openers Shafali Verma (22; 14 balls) and Mandhana (32; 25 balls) attacked from the outset.
Even after the loss of the openers, the visitors were well placed at 78/2 at the halfway mark.
However, England’s spin duo of Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone tightened the screws in the middle overs, drying up boundaries and steadily increasing the asking rate.
Yastika Bhatia, who got a reprieve on 29 when Dean dropped a return catch, struggled to accelerate and was eventually retired out for 33 off 36 balls with the asking rate climbing beyond 12 an over.
Dean was exceptional through the middle phase, conceding little and building pressure with a series of tight overs, while Ecclestone also kept the batters in check from the other end.
India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur briefly threatened a fightback, pulling Lauren Bell for a six over deep backward square leg during her 28 off 22 balls.
In the process, she became only the third batter in Women’s T20Is to complete 4,000 runs after Suzie Bates and Smriti Mandhana.
But England struck at the right moments.
Kemp removed Jemimah Rodrigues soon after her arrival following the retired-out of Yastika, while Dean dealt India a double blow by dismissing Richa Ghosh (8) and Harmanpreet within four deliveries.
Harmanpreet’s wicket effectively ended India’s hopes as she edged Dean behind while attempting an expansive shot outside off.
With the required run rate spiraling out of control and wickets falling regularly, India never recovered as England closed out a comfortable victory to keep the series alive.
Earlier, England made a cautious start, scoring only six runs in the first two overs before Sophia Dunkley broke the shackles with a six over long-on off Arundhati.
But India struck inside the powerplay when debut sensation Nandini Sharma continued her good run, inducing an edge from Dunkley (10 off 14) that was safely collected by wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh.
Under pressure, England managed only 35 for one in the powerplay.
Returning from maternity leave, Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Amy Jones then attempted to rebuild with a brisk 36-run stand, but Charani made the breakthrough by dismissing Wyatt-Hodge for 29 off 25 balls.
The opener tried to attack the spinner but found Mandhana at short third.
Charani struck again in the middle overs to remove the well-set Jones for 28 off 22 balls, leaving England struggling to break free.
Alice Capsey looked promising during her 28-run knock and added 27 runs with Jones, but Shreyanka ended her stay as England continued to lose wickets at regular intervals.
Just when India appeared to have complete control, Kemp’s game-changing cameo at the death ensured England finish with a total that looked well above par on a sluggish surface.
Published – May 31, 2026 05:40 am IST
