Freya Kemp plays a part as England beat India by 26 runs, level series 1-1

England’s Freya Kemp celebrates a goal after a goal by Jemimah Rodrigues during the England v 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 beat India by 26 runs in the second women’s T20I in Bristol on Saturday to level the three-match series at 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 on 142/9 chasing 169.The series will now be decided in the third and final T20I at Taunton on Tuesday.Earlier, India were in control of most of the English innings after restricting the hosts through the middle overs. Shree Charani continued her impressive start to international cricket, taking 3/25.However, Kemp changed the course of the innings after his death. England scored 39 runs in the last two overs, including 24 runs from the last over bowling Arundhati Reddy. Kemp hit two sixes and two fours during his innings as England reached 168/5.India started the chase on a positive note through the openers of 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 opening matches, India were comfortably 78/2 after 10 overs.The match turned during the middle overs when England spinners Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone slowed down the scoring. The boundaries were difficult to find and the required running speed kept rising.Yastika Bhatia, dropped by Dean in the 29th over, struggled to raise the score and was eventually dismissed after making 33 off 36 balls as India looked for quicker runs.Dean built the pressure with a series of economical turns, while Ecclestone also kept the Indian batsmen in check from the other end.India captain Harmanpreet Kaur struggled to keep the chase alive with 28 balls off 22. During her innings, she became only the third batsman in women’s T20Is to reach 4,000 runs, joining Suzie Bates and Smriti Mandhana.But England continued to strike at key moments.Kemp removed Jemimah shortly after she got to the crease while Dean struck a big blow by dismissing Richa Ghosh (8) and Harmanpreet within four balls.Harmanpreet pushed Dean into the background as she tried to attack from the outside and her dismissal left India with too much to do.With the pace required rising rapidly and wickets falling regularly, India could not recover as England sealed the win and kept the series alive.