England Women Beat India by 26 Runs in Bristol to Level T20I Series
England Women defeated India Women by 26 runs in Bristol to level the T20I series 1-1, with Freya Kemp and Charlie Dean playing crucial roles.
England Women bounced back strongly in the second T20I at Bristol’s County Ground, beating India Women by 26 runs to level the three-match series 1-1.
England Women won the toss on Saturday and opted to bat first. Despite a brilliant middle-overs spell from India’s Shrey Charani (3/25), England posted a competitive 168/5 and then held India to 142/9 while defending 169.
England recovered from a quiet phase to finish with a lively late surge. Freya Kemp’s explosive finishing and a cameo from Danni Wyatt-Hodge provided the hosts with much-needed momentum at the death. Kemp remained unbeaten on 39, striking four fours and two sixes, while Wyatt-Hodge contributed 29. Danni Gibson’s quick 11 not out from seven balls also helped push the total into a defendable range.
India began the chase positively and looked well placed during the powerplay. Shafali Verma provided early momentum, scoring 22 runs from 14 deliveries before being dismissed. Her quick start helped India reach 49/1 at the end of the powerplay.
Smriti Mandhana kept the innings moving with a fluent 32 off 25 balls, including five boundaries. Yastika Bhatia then played a steady and valuable innings, scoring 33 from 36 deliveries. The pair stitched together a partnership that carried India to 70/1 by the ninth over, laying a solid platform for the chase.
However, India struggled through the middle overs as England tightened their grip on the contest. Earlier in the match, Charani’s excellent spell had been the highlight of India’s bowling performance. She removed key England batters Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones and Heather Knight, briefly slowing the hosts when they appeared set for a bigger total. Her three wickets kept India firmly in the contest.
During the chase, the required rate steadily climbed as wickets fell at regular intervals. Bhatia departed in the 15th over, leaving India needing 60 runs from the final five overs, a challenging but achievable target.
The pressure increased further as wickets continued to tumble. Jemimah Rodrigues was dismissed for just one run, while Charlie Dean removed both Richa Ghosh and Harmanpreet Kaur during the closing stages to swing the match decisively in England’s favour.
Harmanpreet fought hard, scoring 28 off 22 balls with two sixes and briefly keeping India’s hopes alive. However, her dismissal in the 18th over left the visitors with too much to do in the final overs, and the chase eventually fell short.
England’s bowling attack contributed collectively to the victory. Charlie Dean finished with tidy figures of 2/20, while Lauren Bell and Freya Kemp also claimed two wickets each. Their disciplined effort ensured India were unable to recover after building a promising platform.
India eventually finished on 142/9 from their 20 overs.
Earlier, England had appeared headed towards a modest score before India’s bowlers fought back during the middle overs. The visitors reduced the hosts to 126/5 in the 18th over after removing several top-order batters. Shrey Charani was undoubtedly the standout performer with the ball for India, returning impressive figures of 3/25 through disciplined bowling and effective variations.
India’s bowling unit also had additional reasons to celebrate. Nandini Sharma claimed her maiden international wicket when she dismissed Sophia Dunkley, while Shreyanka Patil clean bowled Alice Capsey to underline the depth in India’s bowling resources.
However, England produced a strong finish with the bat. Freya Kemp’s late assault, featuring four boundaries and two sixes, transformed the innings. Her unbeaten 39, combined with Danni Gibson’s quick cameo, yielded 39 runs in the final two overs and turned a par total into a challenging target.
Match Summary (2nd T20I)
England Women: 168/5 (20 overs)
Top scorers: Freya Kemp 39*, Danni Wyatt-Hodge 29
Best bowling: Shrey Charani 3/25
India Women: 142/9 (20 overs)
Top scorers: Yastika Bhatia 33, Smriti Mandhana 32
Best bowling: Charlie Dean 2/20
Series Heads to Decider
With the series now level at 1-1, the deciding third T20I will be played on Tuesday in Taunton. Both teams will head into the contest looking to make adjustments.
England will aim to build on the momentum generated by their strong finish in Bristol, while India will seek to convert promising starts into a successful chase. Tactical changes in both batting orders and bowling rotations could play a crucial role as the two sides battle for the series victory ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
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