England Women produced a strong response after their defeat in the opening game to defeat India Women by 26 runs in the second T20I at the County Ground in Bristol. Riding on a late assault from Freya Kemp and a disciplined bowling effort, the hosts successfully defended 168/5 to level the three-match series 1-1 and set up a thrilling decider in Taunton on June 2.

Freya Kemp’s late assault powers England to fighting total

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, England Women posted a competitive total of 168/5 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was built on several useful contributions rather than one dominant knock. Danielle Wyatt Hodge provided early momentum with 29 off 25 deliveries, while Amy Jones and Alice Capsey chipped in with identical scores of 28. Captain Heather Knight added 18 runs during the middle phase to keep the scoreboard moving.

However, the defining moment of the innings came in the final overs when Kemp launched a stunning counterattack. The all-rounder smashed an unbeaten 39 from just 13 balls, striking four boundaries and two sixes. Her late blitz transformed England’s total from a good score into a formidable one and gave the home side significant momentum heading into the innings break.

For India Women, left-arm spinner Shree Charani was the standout performer with the ball. She claimed 3 wickets for 25 runs from her four overs and consistently troubled England’s batters. Shreyanka Patil and Nandani Sharma picked up a wicket each, but the visitors struggled to contain England’s aggressive finish.

India start well but lose momentum in chase

Chasing 169 for victory, India Women got off to a promising start through openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. Shafali played her usual attacking game, scoring 22 from just 14 deliveries with five boundaries, while Mandhana contributed a fluent 32 off 25 balls. Yastika Bhatia then anchored the innings with a patient 33 from 36 deliveries, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur kept India’s hopes alive with a brisk 28 off 22 balls that included two sixes. However, England’s bowlers tightened their grip during the middle and death overs, preventing India from building the partnerships needed for a successful chase.

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Once Harmanpreet departed, the visitors lost momentum and wickets at regular intervals. Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma failed to make substantial contributions, leaving too much work for the lower order. India eventually finished on 142/9, falling 26 runs short of the target.

England’s bowling unit shared the workload effectively. Charlotte Dean played a crucial role in the middle overs, returning figures of 2/20 from her four overs. Kemp capped off a memorable outing by taking 2 wickets for just 15 runs in her two overs, while Lauren Bell also picked up two wickets. Sophie Ecclestone claimed one wicket and maintained control throughout her spell. The collective bowling effort ensured England remained in control despite India’s strong start and sealed an important victory. Kemp was deservedly named Player of the Match for her match-changing unbeaten 39 off 13 balls and her impressive bowling figures of 2/15.

Notably, with India Women winning the first T20I by 38 runs and England Women responding with a 26-run triumph in Bristol, the series now stands evenly poised at 1-1. The winner of the third and final T20I at The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton, on June 2 will claim the series, setting the stage for a fascinating showdown between the two sides.

Also READ: ENG-W vs IND-W, T20I Series: Date, Match Time, Broadcast and Live Streaming details

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.