The Blaze completed an extraordinary domestic treble by narrowly defeating Hampshire in a dramatic, last‑ball finish to claim the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s tournament. The Trent Bridge‑based outfit had already celebrated victories in the Vitality Blast and the Vitality T20 County Cup, but the final of the One Day Cup proved to be the most testing of their season. With just 17 runs required from the final two overs and only two runs needed off the very last delivery, the match hung in the balance until Emma Jones, the Blaze’s hard‑hitting middle‑order batter, sealed the win with an unbeaten 34 off 25 balls, delivering the decisive runs after Tammy Beaumont and Georgia Elwiss had already contributed solid half‑centuries in the chase of 252. The innings began with Lucy Higham producing a spellbinding performance with the ball, claiming four wickets for 49 runs and helping to restrict a potent Hampshire line‑up to 251.
Hampshire, who were also the runners‑up in the 2025 edition, had entered the game with confidence, buoyed by half‑centuries from Ella McCaughan and Freya Kemp. After winning the toss, The Blaze opted to bowl first, and early discipline from bowlers Grace Ballinger and Charley Phillips paid dividends as they conceded a mere 11 runs in the opening five overs. However, the opening partnership of Maia Bouchier and Ella McCaughan gradually shifted momentum in Hampshire’s favour, constructing an 84‑run stand that saw McCaughan celebrate her first fifty since June with a series of confident drives.
Bouchier, who had been dismissed for a duck earlier in the tournament, was unable to extend her run of three consecutive centuries when she was caught on the long‑on boundary shortly after Georgia Adams struck a straight‑down‑the‑ground shot to mid‑off, both dismissals credited to Higham. The Blaze regained control 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 and tactical nous began to surface.
Higham struck again, claiming the third and fourth wickets of the innings by effecting a stumping of Kemp and a brilliant catch of Naomi Dattani at mid‑on, taken by the ever‑reliable Kirstie Gordon. Gordon’s resurgence since returning from The Hundred has been remarkable; she has taken 14 wickets in eight matches, and her 4‑49 in this final marked her third four‑for in that stretch. Pacer Charley Phillips added to Hampshire’s woes by dismissing Rhianna Southby, Abi Norgrove and Amanda‑Jade Wellington in three consecutive overs, effectively collapsing the batting side and ensuring they could not surpass the 251‑run total.
When The Blaze began their chase, Sarah Bryce and Tammy Beaumont launched an aggressive assault, dismantling the bowling attack over a 15‑over spell and establishing a 95‑run partnership with relative 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 fell spectacularly to a slip catch. Despite the setbacks, Beaumont, supported by Georgia Elwiss, continued to anchor the innings. The former England opener enjoyed a fortunate day, surviving three dropped catches and a stumping opportunity before finally being given out lbw to Wellington, a dismissal that triggered a rapid loss of three wickets in just 26 balls.
With the required total still out of reach and 30 runs needed, Gordon was caught, leaving The Blaze with 17 runs to obtain from the final two overs. Emma Jones rose to the occasion, delivering a series of boundary‑hitting shots—a powerful reverse pull and a crisp straight drive—that reduced the equation dramatically. Even after a run‑out on the third ball of the final over, Jones remained composed, and she capped the chase with a sweeping four on the very last delivery, securing a nerve‑wracking victory for The Blaze.
The win not only completed a historic treble for The Blaze but also highlighted the depth of talent across the squad. Emma Jones’s composure under pressure, Lucy Higham’s four‑wicket haul, and the strategic brilliance of bowlers like Grace Ballinger, Charley Phillips and Kirstie Gordon all contributed to a performance that will be remembered as one of the most thrilling conclusions to a domestic season in recent memory. The Blaze’s ability to bounce back after early setbacks, manage the chase intelligently, and execute under extreme pressure underscores why they have emerged as the dominant force in women’s county cricket this year. Their triumph serves as a testament to teamwork, resilience, and the sheer excitement that women's cricket continues to generate for fans worldwide.