The Blaze completed an extraordinary domestic treble by edging out Hampshire in a dramatic, last‑ball showdown in the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s competition. Having already captured the Vitality Blast and the Vitality T20 County Cup earlier in the season, the Trent Bridge‑based side faced a daunting chase of 252 runs in the final. The match turned into a tense sprint as the Blaze required 17 runs from the final two overs and then just two runs off the very last delivery. Emma Jones emerged as the heroine, remaining unbeaten on 34 off 25 balls and striking the winning runs after Tammy Beaumont and Georgia Elwiss had already contributed half‑centuries to the chase.
The innings began with Lucy Higham delivering a spell‑binding performance for the Blaze, claiming four wickets for 49 runs and helping to restrict Hampshire – who had also been runners‑up in 2025 – to 251. Hampshire’s innings was anchored by solid contributions from Ella McCaughan and Freya Kemp, both of whom reached fifties. After winning the toss, the Blaze employed a disciplined bowling strategy, with Grace Ballinger and Charley Phillips delivering miserly figures that yielded only 11 runs in the opening five overs. However, the opening partnership of Hampshire’s in‑form Maia Bouchier and McCaughan gradually shifted momentum, building an 84‑run stand that saw McCaughan comfortably cruise to her first half‑century since June.
Bouchier, who had been dismissed for a duck earlier in the tournament, was unable to secure a third consecutive century when she was caught on the long‑on boundary, only moments before Georgia Adams drove a straight ball to mid‑off for a wicket, both dismissals credited to Higham. The Blaze then relaxed as McCaughan and Kemp consolidated the middle overs, forging a 67‑run partnership that took the scoreboard to 166‑2 by the 32nd over. Yet the Blaze’s experience and tactical acumen began to re‑assert themselves. Higham struck again, claiming the third and fourth wickets of the innings 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‑wicket haul of the season with figures of 4‑49. Meanwhile, pacer Charley Phillips delivered a rapid burst, removing Rhianna Southby, Abi Norgrove and Amanda‑Jade Wellington in three consecutive overs, which saw Hampshire’s total stall at 251. In response, the Blaze’s chase was anchored by a powerful partnership between Sarah Bryce and Tammy Beaumont, who dismantled the bowling attack over a 15‑over spell, adding 95 runs with apparent ease. Their momentum was briefly checked when Wellington spun a tight over, dismissing both Bryce sisters—Sarah was caught at deep square leg, while Kathryn fell spectacularly at slip.
Nevertheless, Beaumont, supported by Georgia Elwiss, kept the run‑rate ticking. The former England opener was exceptionally fortunate, surviving three dropped catches and a stumping opportunity before finally being given out lbw to Wellington, which triggered a mini‑collapse as three wickets fell in 26 balls. With 30 runs still required, Kirstie Gordon was caught, leaving the Blaze needing 17 runs from the final two overs. Emma Jones rose to the occasion, delivering a series of aggressive strokes that deflated the tension.
She executed 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 maintained composure and, with a confident sweep, sent the ball racing to the fence on the very last ball, clinching victory for the Blaze in a match that will be remembered for its nerve‑wracking climax.
The triumph not only secured the Metro Bank One Day Cup but also cemented The Blaze’s status as the dominant force in English women’s domestic cricket for the season, having already hoisted the Vitality Blast and the Vitality T20 County Cup. Their ability to recover from precarious positions, combined with individual brilliance from players like Emma Jones, Lucy Higham, and Tammy Beaumont, underscores a depth of talent and resilience that will be difficult for rivals to match in the coming years. The final also highlighted the rising stars of Hampshire—Maia Bouchier, Ella McCaughan, and Freya Kemp—who, despite the loss, displayed the potential to challenge for future honours.
The Blaze’s treble victory will undoubtedly inspire a new generation of cricketers and set a benchmark for excellence in the women’s game.