England secured a 26-run victory over India in the second T20I in Bristol to level the series 1-1, with Freya Kemp delivering a decisive all-round performance. The hosts posted 168/5 in their 20 overs before restricting India to 142/9.
After winning the toss, England chose to bat first but made a cautious start. Danni Wyatt-Hodge, returning from maternity leave, got off to a start but could not convert it into a bigger score. A similar pattern followed for the rest of the top order, with three of the top four crossing 25 but none pushing on.
Both teams opted to include an extra spinner, taking into account the conditions. India’s spin attack impressed, with Sree Charani standing out for her control and accuracy. The surface offered assistance, and she maintained a disciplined line and length. India also had a mixed day in the field, with sharp catches from captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, but some lapses from younger players added to England’s total.
Kemp’s Late Surge Lifts England
England were 129/5 after 18 overs, with India’s spinners, including Shreyanka Patil and Charani, bowling effectively at the death. The pair combined for three overs, conceding just 19 runs while taking two wickets.
However, Freya Kemp and Danielle Gibson shifted the momentum in the closing stages. Gibson struck two boundaries, while Kemp added a boundary off Charani to take England to 144 before the final over.
More Read
Kemp then dominated the last over from Arundhati Reddy, scoring 24 runs and repeatedly finding the gap between deep mid-wicket and long-on. Her late acceleration propelled England to 168, giving the hosts a strong position heading into the second innings.
India Fall Short in Chase
Chasing 169 on a slow surface, India needed a strong start in the powerplay. Shafali Verma began positively, hitting Lauren Bell for two boundaries before being dismissed for 22 off 14 balls.
Yastika Bhatia and Smriti Mandhana then added stability. Bhatia opened her account with a boundary for the second match in a row, while Mandhana settled in and played several fluent shots. However, India struggled to maintain momentum, reaching 70/2 after nine overs before managing only 39 runs in the next six overs.
More Read
As the required rate climbed, India stuck to their batting order. Jemimah Rodrigues was sent in ahead of Richa Ghosh, but was dismissed while attempting to accelerate. Ghosh followed but could not make an impact on the slow pitch.
The responsibility then fell on Harmanpreet Kaur, who struck a few boundaries before edging behind off Charlie Dean, England’s standout bowler. Her dismissal effectively ended India’s hopes, with Sophie Ecclestone also producing an improved bowling performance. Apart from the top four, India’s batters failed to reach double figures.
With the series now level at 1-1, the decider will be played in Taunton, a venue that holds significance for India.
