England all-rounder Freya Kemp's explosive 39 off 13 balls and a two-wicket haul powered the hosts to a comprehensive 26-run victory, levelling the three-match T20I series at 1-1.

Kemp's Cameo Changes the Game

Bristol witnessed one of those innings that swings a match entirely in the space of 18 deliveries. England were sitting at 116 for 4 in the 17th over — competitive, but not quite imposing. Then Freya Kemp walked in.

What followed was a short, brutal assault. The young all-rounder took apart Arundhati Reddy's final over with a six, two fours and another maximum on the last ball, finishing unbeaten on 39 off just 13 balls at a strike rate of 300. England's total jumped to 168 for 5, a score that would prove just beyond India's reach.

Slow Start, Steady Middle, Explosive Finish

England's innings had been anything but fluent in the early stages. Their powerplay yielded only 35 for 1, with India's left-arm spinner N. Sri Charani tying down the batters effectively in the middle overs.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge made 36 before Sri Charani had her caught by Smriti Mandhana at the boundary. Amy Jones followed shortly after, pouched by Harmanpreet Kaur. England captain Heather Knight, who has now scored 19, 25, 18, 21 and 18 in her last five T20 innings, added 18 before offering a soft return catch to Sri Charani — a worrying run of modest scores for the home side's skipper.

Dani Gibson chipped in with useful support during Kemp's blitz, the pair adding 14 off a Nandini Sharma over to help accelerate the innings in its closing stages. Sri Charani finished with 3 for 25 from 4 overs — easily the pick of the Indian bowlers.

India's Chase Falters Early

Chasing 169, India needed a strong platform. They didn't get one. Shafali Verma, usually dangerous at the top, was caught at cover off Lauren Bell in the third over. Smriti Mandhana came and went, caught by Alice Capsey off Kemp's bowling.

Yastika Bhatia provided some resistance and top-scored for India with 33, though her 36-ball knock meant the required rate kept climbing. England dropped her twice — Sophie Ecclestone spilled a low chance and Charlie Dean put her down off her own bowling when Bhatia was on 29 — but the extra lives couldn't alter the outcome. Under mounting pressure, Bhatia eventually chose to retire out, leaving India needing 60 from the last five overs.

Death Overs Seal India's Fate

Jemimah Rodrigues arrived at the crease with the equation still just about alive, but Kemp, operating with the ball now, removed her second ball — caught at cover. Charlie Dean then delivered the knockout blow in a single over, dismissing Richa Ghosh and Harmanpreet Kaur in quick succession.

India needed 39 off the last 12 balls. The lower order couldn't come close. Final score: 142 for 9.

Dean took 2 for 20 from 4 overs, while Bell and Kemp claimed 2 wickets each. Kemp's match figures — 39 not out and 2 for 15 — made her the obvious choice as player of the match.

Series Heads to Taunton

India, who had won the opening T20I, now go into Tuesday's decider at Taunton level at 1-1. The third and final match will determine the series winner, and both sides will be aware of the margins involved — India were never truly out of this chase until the 16th over. A repeat of Sri Charani's accuracy with the ball, and a more disciplined batting effort in the death, could well swing things back in the visitors' favour.