Kemp makes the difference as England square the series in Bristol
Yastika retired-out backfires for India as they slump to 26-run loss
Yastika retired-out backfires for India as they slump to 26-run loss
Scorer: Thilak Ram | Commentator: Rashad Mahbub
Well, that's all the action from us today, folks. Thank you for tuning in. This is Rashad Mahbub signing off on behalf of Alan Gardner and Thilak Ramamurthy. Goodnight and goodbye.
Charlie Dean: "It was brilliant to get up to the score that we got. Kempy was exceptional, and as for all the other girls as well. And then to be able to defend that was pretty special. Eccles was brilliant towards the back end, and it was nice to have Linsey and Belly opening up again. [Kemp's cameo] Freya was exceptional. She really took the momentum into our bowling innings, and I think we needed a score like that to really put pressure on their batters. So for her to go out like that, especially when maybe there's been questions about our power, is brilliant. I know how good she can be, so it's really nice to see that. [Kemp's role with the bat] You know, it's a good question. Kempy is a very dynamic batter, so potentially to give her a bit more time, I don't see why not. She was brilliant today, and looking forward to Taunton, hopefully we can put in a similar performance. [Found yourself under a bit more pressure] Yeah, we know how powerful India can be. Their batting lineup is brilliant, so we knew that we had to really execute towards the back end with the power that kept coming in. To be able to really back ourselves up with that bowling performance was really impressive, especially after Chelmsford. So, it feels great to bounce back like that. [Series decider game] Yeah, hugely [confidence booster]. They're a really strong team, so to be able to win today and keep the series on the line is brilliant. Looking forward to Taunton."
Harmanpreet Kaur: "[Freya Kemp] I think she took the game away from us the way she batted in the last two overs, and we should give credit to her for the way she batted. No doubt they got 10 to 15 extra in the last over, and I think we started well. It was only about keep building the partnership, but unfortunately we played too many dot balls in the middle. I think that really cost us. [How did the batting get stuck a little bit] I think we put pressure on ourselves. When we were getting runs, we should keep rotating the strike, but I think we played a lot of dot balls in between that put a lot of pressure on us. [Retiring out Bhatia] Yeah, I think unfortunately she was not connecting with the ball, and we thought Jemi was someone who got runs in the last game and wanted to give her a chance to play, but I think that didn't work for us. [Keeping Jemimah up the order?] Well, we never thought this situation would come because Yastika batted really well in the first game, and we just thought she would continue there, but it's a game; sometimes you click, sometimes you don't. It's only about just keep thinking what you have to do for the team."
Player of the Match, Freya Kemp: "[Much needed boost] Yeah, definitely, obviously the game at Chelmsford didn't go the way that we wanted it to, but nice to bounce back today. And I think it was a great team performance all round, and the team is very pleased. [Cameo] I think we set up the innings really nicely. Charlie has spoken a lot about trying to fire at the back end and get some good runs off the death overs. So, it's just nice to do that role for the team today. [Is this your particular role?] Oh, nice. Nice for the girls at the top of the order to face as many balls as possible, obviously. And I think any batter would like to face lots of balls, but it's nice not to have to. I think they did a great job up front today, like Danny and Dunks setting up the power play, and Amy and Kat through the middle were great as well. [Working on your strengths] I'm always trying to improve and look at different plans that teams have against me, trying to counteract those as much as possible. It's been a good challenge, the wide stuff, and just trying to come up with some answers, I guess. [Grabbing two big wickets] Yes, nice to be back bowling, getting a few overs for the team, and just to get a few wickets today was really nice."
avikrams: "Indian needed a cameo like Kemp in last 3 overs but they failed"
Shadow-Shell: "Those 39 runs in the last two overs proving to be the difference"
5:35 pm England drew level in the series with a well-rounded performance, combining a strong batting effort with disciplined bowling and calm execution at key moments of the chase. India began brightly thanks to Shafali Verma, who came out attacking and found the boundary regularly during the powerplay. Her aggressive start put England's new-ball bowlers under pressure, but Bell produced a clever slower delivery in the third over to break the momentum and send Shafali back. Despite losing an early wicket, India finished the powerplay on 49, comfortably ahead of England's 35 at the same stage. The visitors were then handed a reprieve when Bhatia was dropped on 13 by Ecclestone at mid-on. However, England responded immediately as Mandhana, who had looked fluent throughout her innings, picked out the fielder at deep square leg and departed for 32. Bhatia survived another scare when Dean failed to hold a difficult return catch with the batter on 29. Even so, England's spinners gradually wrestled back control. Dean and Ecclestone squeezed the scoring options through the middle overs, making it increasingly difficult for India to keep pace with the required rate. Struggling to find boundaries and rotate the strike consistently, Bhatia was eventually retired out for 33 in an attempt to inject fresh momentum into the chase. The move did not have the desired effect, as Jemimah Rodrigues was unable to make a significant contribution and fell cheaply. As the asking rate continued to climb, Harmanpreet Kaur carried India's hopes, but the target kept slipping further out of reach. Her dismissal for 28 effectively ended the chase and left England firmly in control. Bell, Dean and Kemp claimed two wickets apiece as England completed a convincing victory. The post-match presentation will follow shortly.
England Women won by 26 runs
N Shree Charani run out 1 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 100
SR Patil b Ecclestone 6 (4m 4b 1x4 0x6) SR: 150
md: "England has a more disciplined bowling. India should have easily won the game if they would have planned the chase in a better way"
Righto. Last over of the game. Ecclestone to bowl. 32 runs to defend. Anyone fancy a couple of sixes?
Allrounder made impact on bowling return but blazing finish to England innings made the difference
Yastika retired-out backfires for India as they slump to 26-run loss