Freya Kemp starred with both bat and ball as England defeated India by 26 runs in the second Women’s T20I in Bristol on Saturday to level the three-match series 1-1.Kemp first gave England a late boost with an unbeaten 39 off just 13 balls before returning figures of 2/15, dismissing Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues 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 in control for most of England’s innings after restricting the hosts through the middle overs. Left-arm spinner Shree Charani continued her impressive start to international cricket, picking up 3/25.However, Kemp changed the course of the innings at the death. England scored 39 runs in the final two overs, including 24 runs from the last over bowled by Arundhati Reddy. Kemp struck two sixes and two fours during her innings as England reached 168/5.India made a positive start to the chase through openers Shafali Verma and Mandhana. Shafali scored 22 off 14 balls while Mandhana made 32 off 25 as the visitors kept pace with the target.Even after losing the openers, India were placed comfortably at 78/2 after 10 overs.The match turned during the middle overs when England’s spinners Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone slowed the scoring. Boundaries became difficult to find and the required run rate kept climbing.Yastika Bhatia, who was dropped by Dean on 29, struggled to increase the scoring rate and was eventually retired out after making 33 off 36 balls as India looked for quicker runs.Dean built pressure with a series of economical overs while Ecclestone also kept the Indian batters under control from 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 batter in Women’s T20Is to score 4,000 runs, joining Suzie Bates and Smriti Mandhana.But England continued to strike at key moments.Kemp removed Jemimah shortly after she came to the crease, while Dean delivered a major blow by dismissing Richa Ghosh (8) and Harmanpreet within four balls.Harmanpreet edged Dean behind while trying to attack outside off, and her dismissal left India with too much to do.With the required rate rising rapidly and wickets falling regularly, India were unable to recover as England sealed the win and kept the series alive.
