The Blaze completed an impressive domestic treble by edging out Hampshire in a heart‑stopping finish to the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s tournament. The Trent Bridge outfit had already lifted the Vitality Blast and the Vitality T20 County Cup, and they now added the one‑day crown to their haul, sealing a historic season. The final was a roller‑coaster from the start. Hampshire posted a formidable 251 runs, thanks to a solid opening partnership and several aggressive knocks in the middle order.
The Blaze, however, responded with determination, chasing down the target in dramatic fashion. With 17 runs required off the last two overs and just two runs needed from the very last ball, Emma Jones emerged as the heroine, striking an unbeaten 34 off 25 deliveries and hitting the decisive runs to clinch the win. Her innings was supported by crucial contributions from Tammy Beaumont and Georgia Elwiss, both of whom compiled half‑centuries during the chase of 252.
On the bowling side, Lucy Higham delivered a match‑winning spell, taking 4‑49 and helping to restrict Hampshire, who were also the runners‑up in the 2025 edition, to 251. Earlier in the innings, Ella McCaughan and Freya Kemp had each reached the fifty‑run mark, providing the firepower that set a challenging total.
The Blaze won the toss and, through the disciplined bowling of Grace Ballinger and Charley Phillips, managed to keep Hampshire’s scoring to a meager 11 runs in the first five overs. Nevertheless, the opening pair of the in‑form Maia Bouchier and McCaughan began to shift momentum, building an 84‑run stand that steadied the home side’s innings.
McCaughan, in particular, displayed confidence, cruising to her first half‑century since June. Bouchier, who had been dismissed for a duck earlier in the tournament, could not extend her run of centuries, falling to a long‑on catch after Georgia Adams drove a ball straight to mid‑off, both dismissals credited to Higham.
The Blaze then settled into a more defensive posture as McCaughan and Kemp dominated the middle overs, forging a 67‑run partnership that saw them at 166‑2 by the 32nd over. Yet the Blaze’s experience and tactical acumen began to surface. Higham claimed the third and fourth wickets of the innings, first by stumping Kemp and then by effecting a brilliant catch of Naomi Dattani at mid‑on, taken by Kirstie Gordon.
Gordon, who has taken 14 wickets in eight matches since returning from The Hundred, recorded her third four‑for in that span with figures of 4‑49. Meanwhile, pacer Charley Phillips delivered a devastating over, removing Rhianna Southby, Abi Norgrove and Amanda‑Jade Wellington in three consecutive deliveries, which caused Hampshire’s momentum to sputter and left them stranded at 251. In response, the Blaze’s chase began with a flourish.
Sarah Bryce and Tammy Beaumont took charge, dismantling the Hampshire bowlers over a 15‑over spell and establishing a 95‑run partnership with apparent ease. Their aggressive approach put the required run rate well within reach. However, Wellington fought back, spinning a tight over that saw both Bryce sisters fall – Sarah was caught at deep square leg and Kathryn was elegantly taken at slip. Beaumont, supported by Elwiss, kept the scoreboard ticking.
The former England opener was fortunate throughout the innings, surviving three dropped catches and a stumping chance, before finally being dismissed lbw by Wellington. That wicket triggered a brief collapse, with three wickets falling in just 26 balls, and the required total shrank to 30 runs with only a handful of overs remaining. Gordon’s dismissal added further pressure, leaving the Blaze needing 17 runs from the final two overs. It was at this juncture that Emma Jones stepped up.
She unleashed a spectacular reverse pull and a clean straight drive, both finding the boundary. Even after a run‑out on the third ball of the final over, Jones remained composed. With the equation narrowed to two runs off the very last delivery, she executed a confident sweep that sailed over the ropes, securing the win for the Blaze in a match that will be remembered for its intensity and fine margins. The victory not only completed a domestic treble for the Blaze but also highlighted the depth of talent within the squad.
Players such as Higham, Gordon, and Phillips demonstrated their ability to deliver under pressure, while the batting lineup showed resilience and adaptability. The final also underscored the growing competitiveness of women’s county cricket, with Hampshire providing a formidable challenge and producing several notable performances of their own. Looking ahead, the Blaze will aim to build on this remarkable season, maintaining the high standards they have set across all formats.
Their success serves as an inspiration for emerging players and a testament to the quality of coaching, preparation, and team spirit that has become the hallmark of the club. The thrilling finish against Hampshire will be remembered as a defining moment in a season that saw the Blaze dominate English domestic women’s cricket, securing a place in the annals of the sport’s history.