India’s chase unravels as England level series

The Indian women’s cricket team slumped to a 26-run defeat against England in the second match of the ENG-W vs IND-W T20 2026 series at the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol on Saturday.

Despite Shree Charani’s inspired spell of 3/25, world No. 2 England recovered strongly to post 168/5, courtesy of a late charge from Freya Kemp, who scored 39 off 13.

India, third in the Women’s T20I rankings, managed 142/9 in response. Yastika Bhatia top-scored with 33 but her runs came off 36 balls.

With the win, England levelled the three-match series 1-1. India beat England by 38 runs in the opening match in Chelmsford on Thursday. The series decider will take place in Taunton on Tuesday.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, England found themselves struggling at 126/5 after the 18th over.

Charani was the standout bowler for India, dismissing Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones and Heather Knight in an excellent spell to ensure India dominated the middle overs.

Nandani Sharma claimed a wicket after removing Sophia Dunkley, while Shreyanka Patil bowled Alice Capsey.

England, however, finished strongly thanks to Freya Kemp’s explosive knock of 39 not out off just 13 balls. The left-hander smashed four boundaries and two sixes as the hosts plundered 39 runs from the final two overs.

India began their chase positively with Shafali Verma taking the attack to the English bowlers early before losing her wicket in the third over. Courtesy of her 22 off 14, the visitors raced to 49/1 in the powerplay.

Smriti Mandhana, who struck five boundaries in her 32 off 25, and Yastika Bhatia then stitched together a steady partnership to take India to 70/1 and keep the chase on course.

However, England gradually tightened their grip after Smriti Mandhana’s wicket in the ninth over as India struggled to find boundaries regularly in the middle overs.

Yastika Bhatia consumed 36 deliveries for her 33 runs and was eventually retired out in the 15th over with India needing 60 off the final 30 balls.

The move failed to spark a turnaround as India lost wickets at regular intervals. Jemimah Rodrigues, top-scorer in the first match of the series, fell for one before Charlie Dean removed both Richa Ghosh and Harmanpreet Kaur in the 18th over.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s 28 off 22 included two sixes, which helped her overtake Smriti Mandhana’s record for most sixes by an Indian in women’s T20Is. Smriti’s tally stood at 85 after his dismissal.

England continued to chip away at the lower order late in the innings as India finished well short of the target.

Dean starred with the ball for England, returning figures of 2/20, while Freya Kemp also picked up two wickets.

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