Freya Kemp breathed life into England’s preparations for the T20 World Cup as they levelled their series against India with a 26-run victory in Bristol.
After being outclassed in the first T20 on Thursday, England were pedestrian with the bat until Kemp took 24 from the last over to finish 39 not out from 13 balls.
That lifted England to 168-5, a total that had looked well beyond them just two overs earlier, though India were still well placed at 70-1 in the ninth over of their chase.
But Kemp, only just returning to bowling after more than a year of back injury restrictions, came to the fore again by having the classy Smriti Mandhana caught at deep square leg for 32.
Her wicket sparked an impressive fightback from England’s bowlers as they first halted India’s scoring through Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone and then claimed a flurry of wickets.
After India retired out Yastika Bhatia for 33 from 36 balls – the first instance of the tactic being used in a women’s T20 between major nations – Kemp had her replacement Jemimah Rodrigues caught with a slower ball.
Needing 39 from the last two overs, India crumbled to 142-9
Though parts of the batting remain a concern and England also dropped two catches, the win is a significant boost to England as they build towards their opening match of the World Cup at Edgbaston on 12 June.
Rather than facing a dead rubber after another demoralising defeat, they can now clinch the series in a decider in Taunton on Tuesday.