England Fight Back to Level T20I Series as India Collapse in Bristol Thriller

England Women 168/5 beat India Women 142/9 by 26 runs; Series Tied 1-1

Bristol, May 2026 : England Women produced a spirited comeback to defeat India Women by 26 runs in the second T20 International at the County Ground in Bristol on Saturday, leveling the three-match series 1-1 and setting up a winner-takes-all decider.

After losing the opening match of the series, England bounced back strongly with a disciplined bowling performance and a late batting surge led by all-rounder Freya Kemp. The hosts successfully defended a challenging total of 168/5, restricting India to 142/9 despite promising starts from several Indian batters.

India entered the contest with the opportunity to secure the series after their victory in the first T20I. However, a dramatic batting collapse in the final overs derailed their chase and handed England a crucial victory ahead of the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

Chasing 169 for victory, India appeared to be well placed at various stages of the innings. Openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana laid a steady foundation before Yastika Bhatia and captain Harmanpreet Kaur continued the pursuit with valuable contributions. Shafali scored 22, Mandhana made 32, Yastika contributed 33, while Harmanpreet added 28 runs.

At the end of the 15th over, India were 109/3 and still in contention. However, with 60 runs required from the final five overs, the pressure of the rising run rate began to take its toll. England’s bowlers tightened their grip, forcing errors and triggering a collapse that saw India lose six wickets for just 33 runs.

The middle and lower order failed to provide the finishing touch. Jemimah Rodrigues managed only one run, Richa Ghosh scored eight, Deepti Sharma added two, and Shreyanka Patil contributed a brief six off four deliveries. India eventually finished on 142/9, falling 26 runs short of the target.

England’s bowling attack shared the spoils effectively. Freya Kemp, who had already made a decisive impact with the bat, claimed 2/15. Charlie Dean returned figures of 2/20, while Lauren Bell picked up 2/33. Experienced spinner Sophie Ecclestone chipped in with one wicket and maintained pressure throughout the chase.

Earlier, England’s innings was transformed by a stunning late assault from Freya Kemp, whose unbeaten 39 off just 13 balls dramatically shifted the momentum in the hosts’ favour. Her explosive knock included four boundaries and two towering sixes, helping England collect 39 runs in the final two overs.

England had struggled to accelerate for much of their innings on a slow and challenging pitch. After opting to bat first, they endured a cautious powerplay and lost Sophia Dunkley for 10 after she had been dropped early.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge, recently returned from maternity leave, looked in good touch and struck three boundaries during her 29-run innings. Amy Jones contributed 28, while Alice Capsey also scored 28. However, India’s spin attack kept England under control through the middle overs.

Left-arm spinner Sree Charani once again impressed with the ball, finishing with excellent figures of 3/25. She dismissed Wyatt-Hodge, Jones and England captain Heather Knight, who was caught and bowled by the spinner. Shreyanka Patil also bowled effectively and removed Capsey while maintaining pressure during the middle phase.

India’s spinners collectively bowled 12 overs for 94 runs and claimed four wickets, significantly outperforming the pace attack, which conceded 74 runs in eight overs for just one wicket.

Despite the disciplined bowling effort, India lost control in the closing stages. Freya Kemp launched a brutal attack in the final over, smashing Arundhati Reddy for two sixes and two fours to collect 24 runs. Danielle Gibson provided useful support with 11 runs from seven deliveries as England pushed their total beyond 160, a score that had seemed unlikely midway through the innings.

The late flourish ultimately proved decisive, giving England a total that was just beyond India’s reach.

With the series now locked at 1-1, both teams will head into the third and final T20I with everything to play for. The deciding encounter promises to be a crucial test as both sides fine-tune their combinations and build momentum ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

Brief Scores:
England Women 168/5 (20 overs) – Freya Kemp 39* (13), Danni Wyatt-Hodge 29, Amy Jones 28, Alice Capsey 28; Sree Charani 3/25, Shreyanka Patil 1/29.

India Women 142/9 (20 overs) – Yastika Bhatia 33, Smriti Mandhana 32, Harmanpreet Kaur 28, Shafali Verma 22; Freya Kemp 2/15, Charlie Dean 2/20, Lauren Bell 2/33.

Result: England Women won by 26 runs. Series levelled 1-1.