The Blaze completed an extraordinary domestic treble by edging out Hampshire in a last‑ball showdown to claim the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s title. Already holders of the Vitality Blast and the Vitality T20 County Cup, the Trent Bridge outfit were forced to summon every ounce of resolve when they found themselves needing 17 runs from the final two overs and just two from the very last delivery. Emma Jones rose to the occasion, delivering an unbeaten 34 off 25 balls and striking the decisive runs after Tammy Beaumont and Georgia Elwiss had already contributed half‑centuries in the chase of a formidable 252.
The match began with Lucy Higham delivering a spellbinding performance, taking 4‑49 and helping to restrict the Hampshire side—who were also the losing finalists in 2025—to 251. Hampshire’s innings was anchored by solid contributions from Ella McCaughan and Freya Kemp, both of whom reached the fifty‑run mark.
After winning the toss, The Blaze employed a disciplined bowling plan, with Grace Ballinger and Charley Phillips delivering miserly figures that yielded only 11 runs in the first five overs. However, the opening partnership of the in‑form Maia Bouchier and McCaughan gradually shifted momentum, building an 84‑run stand that saw McCaughan confidently fire her first fifty since June.
Bouchier, who had been dropped on a duck earlier in the tournament, could not complete a third consecutive century; she was caught on the long‑on boundary just as Georgia Adams struck a straight drive to mid‑off, both dismissals coming at the hands of Higham. The hosts steadied the innings as McCaughan and Kemp forged a 67‑run partnership in the middle overs, taking the score to 166‑2 by the 32nd over.
Yet The Blaze’s experience shone through in the closing stages. Higham claimed the third and fourth wickets of the afternoon by orchestrating a stumping of Kemp and a brilliant catch of Naomi Dattani by Kirstie Gordon at mid‑on. Gordon, who has taken 14 wickets in eight matches since returning from The Hundred, recorded her third four‑for of the season with figures of 4‑49.
Charley Phillips added to Hampshire’s collapse, dismissing Rhianna Southby, Abi Norgrove and Amanda‑Jade Wellington in three successive overs, leaving the opposition stranded at 251. In response, Sarah Bryce and Tammy Beaumont launched an aggressive counter‑attack, dominating the bowlers for 15 overs and putting together a 95‑run partnership with apparent ease. Wellington attempted to stem the flow by taking the wickets of both Bryce sisters in a single over—Sarah was caught at deep square leg, while Kathryn was superbly taken at slip.
Beaumont, supported by Elwiss, kept the run‑rate ticking, benefiting from a fortunate three‑time drop and surviving a stumping chance. Her luck finally ran out when she was given out lbw to Wellington, marking her fifth half‑century of the campaign but also triggering a quick succession of three wickets in 26 balls. With 30 runs still required and the pressure mounting, Gordon fell to a catch, leaving The Blaze needing 17 from the final two overs. Emma Jones, already settled at the crease, took charge.
She unleashed a spectacular reverse pull and a crisp straight drive, both racing to the boundary, and even after being run‑out on the third ball of the over, she steadied the ship. The climax arrived on the very last ball of the match: Jones executed a sweeping four that sailed over the field, sealing a nerve‑wracking victory for The Blaze. The triumph not only secured the Metro Bank One Day Cup but also cemented The Blaze’s status as the season’s dominant force in women’s domestic cricket.
Their ability to bounce back from precarious positions—first by limiting Hampshire to a sub‑250 total and then by chasing a steep target under intense pressure—underscores the depth and resilience of the squad. Players like Emma Jones, who delivered under the most demanding circumstances, and Lucy Higham, whose four‑wicket haul proved pivotal, highlighted the blend of skill and temperament that defined the campaign. Beyond the statistics, the match offered a vivid illustration of modern women’s cricket: strategic bowling changes, aggressive batting partnerships, and moments of individual brilliance that kept spectators on the edge of their seats. The Blaze’s journey to a domestic treble will be remembered not only for the silverware but also for the thrilling narrative that unfolded on the field, showcasing the growing competitiveness and excitement within the women’s game.