Freya Kemp of England celebrates after taking the wicket of Jemima Rodrigues during England vs India, Women’s 2nd IT20 match at Seat Unique Stadium on May 30, 2026 in Bristol, England. (Photo/Getty Images)
Freya Kemp starred with both bat and ball as England defeated India by 26 runs in the women’s second T20I in Bristol on Saturday to level the three-match series 1-1.Kemp gave England a late impetus for the first time with an unbeaten 39 off just 13 balls before returning with figures of 2/15, dismissing Smriti Mandhana and Jemima Rodriguez as India finished at 142/9 while chasing 169.The series will now be decided in the third and final T20I in Taunton on Tuesday.Earlier, India looked to be in control for most of England’s innings after restricting the hosts through the middle overs. Left-arm pacer Shree Charani continued her impressive start in international cricket, taking 3/25.However, Kemp changed the course of the innings at the death. England scored 39 runs in the last two overs, including 24 off the last over by Arundhati Reddy.
Kemp hit two sixes and two fours during her innings as England reached 168/5.India got off to a positive start to the chase through openers Shafali Verma and Mandhana. Shafali scored 22 off 14 balls while Mandhana scored 32 off 25 to keep the visitors on target.Even after losing the opener, India were comfortably placed at 78/2 after 10 overs.The game turned during the middle when English players Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone slowed down the scoring.
Boundaries became harder to find and the run rate required continued to rise.Yastika Bhatia, who was dropped by Dean on 29, struggled to increase the scoring rate and was eventually retired after making 33 off 36 balls as India looked for quicker runs.Dean built pressure with a series of economic overs while Ecclestone also kept the Indian fighters in check at the other end.India captain Harmanpreet Kaur tried to keep the chase alive with 28 off 22 balls.
During her innings, she became only the third batsman in women’s T20Is to score 4,000 runs, joining Susie Bates and Smriti Mandhana.But England continued to bat at crucial moments.Kemp removed Jemima soon after she reached the crease, while Dean struck a massive blow by dismissing Richa Ghosh (8) and Harmanpreet within four balls.Harmanpreet outplayed Dean while trying to attack from the outside, and her dismissal left India with a lot to do.With the required rate rising rapidly and wickets falling regularly, India were unable to recover as England cruised to victory and kept the series alive.
