The Blaze completed an extraordinary domestic treble by edging out Hampshire in a nail‑biting finish to the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s tournament. Having already lifted the Vitality Blast and the Vitality T20 County Cup, the Trent Bridge‑based side faced a daunting chase of 252 runs in the final and were forced to dig deep when the required run rate surged in the closing stages.
With 17 runs needed from the last two overs and just two runs required off the very last ball, Emma Jones emerged as the heroine, delivering an unbeaten 34 off 25 balls and striking the decisive runs after Tammy Beaumont and Georgia Elwiss had already contributed half‑centuries. The match began with Lucy Higham producing a spell‑binding performance, claiming four wickets for 49 runs and helping to keep Hampshire – who had also been runners‑up in the 2025 edition – to a total of 251.
Both Ella McCaughan and Freya Kemp reached the fifty‑run mark, providing a solid platform for their side. After winning the toss, The Blaze employed a restrictive strategy, with Grace Ballinger and Charley Phillips conceding only 11 runs in the first five overs. However, Hampshire’s opening partnership, featuring the in‑form Maia Bouchier and McCaughan, began to shift momentum, stitching together an 84‑run stand. McCaughan, who had not recorded a fifty since June, displayed confidence by finding the boundary with ease.
Bouchier, who had been dismissed for a duck earlier, was unable to secure a third consecutive century when she was caught on the long‑on boundary. Shortly thereafter, Georgia Adams attempted a powerful shot but was caught straight to mid‑off, both dismissals credited to Higham.
The hosts then relaxed as McCaughan and Kemp accelerated the middle overs, forging a 67‑run partnership that saw the scoreboard read 166‑2 by the 32nd over. Yet The Blaze’s experience shone through in the latter part of the innings. Higham claimed the third and fourth wickets of the day, first by stumping Kemp and then by taking a brilliant catch at mid‑on to dismiss Naomi Dattani, who was hauled in by Kirstie Gordon.
Gordon, a spinner 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, pace bowler Charley Phillips delivered a rapid burst, removing Rhianna Southby, Abi Norgrove, and Amanda‑Jade Wellington in three consecutive overs, which caused Hampshire’s total to stall at 251. In response, The Blaze’s batting line‑up, led by Sarah Bryce and Tammy Beaumont, began to dismantle the bowling attack over a 15‑over partnership that added 95 runs with apparent ease.
Wellington attempted to stem the flow by dismissing both Bryce sisters in a single over – Sarah was caught deep square, while Kathryn fell spectacularly to a slip catch. Beaumont, supported by Georgia Elwiss, continued to anchor the chase. The former England opener enjoyed a fortunate day at the crease, surviving three dropped catches and a stumping opportunity. Her luck eventually ran out when she was given out lbw to Wellington, marking her fifth half‑century of the campaign but also triggering a mini‑collapse that saw three wickets fall in just 26 balls.
With 30 runs still required, Gordon was dismissed caught, leaving the equation at 17 runs from the final two overs. Emma Jones rose to the occasion, neutralising the pressure with a series of aggressive strokes. She unleashed a reverse pull and a straight drive that both raced to the boundary, and even after being involved in a run‑out on the third ball of the over, she remained composed.
The climax arrived on the very last delivery of the match: Jones executed a sweeping four, sealing a dramatic victory for The Blaze and completing a historic domestic treble. The win not only highlighted the depth and resilience of The Blaze’s squad but also underscored the pivotal contributions of both seasoned internationals and emerging talents. Higham’s four‑wicket haul, Gordon’s spin mastery, and the finishing flourish from Jones will be remembered as key ingredients in a match that swung back and forth until the final moment. Hampshire, despite a valiant effort and notable performances from Bouchier, McCaughan, and Kemp, fell just short of the target, illustrating the fine margins that separate triumph from disappointment in elite women’s cricket.
Overall, the final showcased a blend of strategic bowling, aggressive batting, and clutch performances under pressure, cementing The Blaze’s status as a dominant force in the English women’s domestic circuit for the season.