The Blaze completed a remarkable domestic treble by edging out Hampshire in a dramatic one‑day final that went down to the very last ball. Having already captured the Vitality Blast and the Vitality T20 County Cup, the Trent Bridge‑based side faced a daunting chase of 252 runs in the Metro Bank One Day Cup final. After a tense finish that saw them needing 17 runs from the final two overs and just two runs from the very last delivery, Emma Jones emerged as the match‑winner, finishing unbeaten on 34 off 25 balls and striking the decisive runs.
Her heroics capped a chase that was anchored by earlier half‑centuries from Tammy Beaumont and Georgia Elwiss. The innings began with Lucy Higham delivering a game‑changing spell, taking four wickets for 49 runs and helping to restrict Hampshire, who were also the 2025 runners‑up, to 251.
Both Ella McCaughan and Freya Kemp contributed solid fifties, setting a competitive total. After winning the toss, the Blaze employed a disciplined opening strategy, with Grace Ballinger and Charley Phillips conceding just 11 runs in the first five overs, keeping the run rate under control. However, Hampshire’s opening partnership, featuring the in‑form Maia Bouchier and McCaughan, began to shift momentum, putting together an 84‑run stand. McCaughan, confident and aggressive, notched her first fifty since June, while Bouchier, after being dismissed for a duck, was unable to add another century as she fell to a long‑on catch, followed shortly by a dismissal of Georgia Adams to mid‑off, both wickets claimed by Higham.
The middle overs saw McCaughan and Kemp dominate, adding a further 67 runs and taking the score to 166‑2 by the 32nd over. Yet the Blaze’s experience shone through. Higham struck again, claiming the third and fourth wickets of the innings: she stumped Kemp and then induced Naomi Dattani to a brilliant catch at mid‑on by Kirstie Gordon. Gordon, a spinner who has taken 14 wickets in eight matches since returning from The Hundred, recorded her third four‑wicket haul of the season with figures of 4‑49.
Meanwhile, pacer Charley Phillips delivered a lethal spell, dismissing Rhianna Southby, Abi Norgrove, and Amanda‑Jade Wellington in three consecutive overs, which helped keep Hampshire’s total capped at 251. When the Blaze began their chase, Sarah Bryce and Tammy Beaumont quickly put the pressure back on Hampshire’s bowlers, building a 95‑run partnership over 15 overs. Their aggressive intent forced the opposition to try a variety of tactics, but Wellington’s spin offered a brief respite, dismissing both Bryce sisters in a single over – Sarah was caught at deep square leg, and Kathryn was elegantly taken at slip.
Despite these setbacks, Beaumont, supported by Georgia Elwiss, continued to steer the innings forward. Beaumont, a former England opener, enjoyed a fortunate day at the crease, surviving three drops and a stumping chance before finally being given out lbw to Wellington.
That wicket triggered a mini‑collapse, with three wickets falling in just 26 balls, leaving the Blaze still needing 30 runs. Gordon’s wicket fell next, leaving the side with 17 runs required from the final two overs.
Emma Jones, who had already contributed a quick‑fire 34, took charge. She unleashed a spectacular reverse pull and a clean straight drive that both raced to the boundary, reducing the equation dramatically. Even after a run‑out on the third ball of the final over, Jones held her nerve and, with a calm sweep, dispatched the ball for four runs on the very last delivery, sealing a thrilling victory for the Blaze. The win not only secured the Metro Bank One Day Cup but also completed an unprecedented domestic treble for the Blaze, underscoring their dominance across all formats in the current season.
Their ability to bounce back from tight situations, combined with individual brilliance from players like Higham, Gordon, Phillips, and especially the composure of Emma Jones in the clutch moments, highlighted a squad with depth, resilience, and a winning mentality. The final also showcased the competitive spirit of Hampshire, whose strong batting display and occasional breakthroughs kept the contest alive until the very end. This triumph adds another chapter to the Blaze’s growing legacy and sets a high benchmark for future domestic campaigns.