The Blaze completed an extraordinary domestic treble by edging out Hampshire in a heart‑stopping, last‑ball finish to claim the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s title. This triumph caps a season in which the Trent Bridge‑based side already lifted the Vitality Blast and the Vitality T20 County Cup, underscoring their dominance across all three major English women’s limited‑overs competitions.
The final was a roller‑coaster from the first ball. After winning the toss, Blaze captain Grace Ballinger and bowler Charley Phillips imposed an ultra‑defensive spell that yielded just 11 runs in the opening five overs, putting Hampshire under immediate pressure. However, the opposition’s opening partnership, featuring the in‑form Maia Bouchier and rising star Ella McCaughan, began to steady the ship with an 84‑run stand. McCaughan, who had not reached a half‑century since June, struck the ball with confidence, guiding her team to a respectable total of 251.
Lucy Higham proved decisive with the ball, returning figures of 4‑49. Her spell helped restrict Hampshire, who were also the 2025 runners‑up, from building an even larger total. Higham’s wickets came at crucial moments: she removed both McCaughan and Freya Kemp during a 67‑run partnership that had taken the score to 166‑2 in the 32nd over.
The spinner’s resurgence in the season has been remarkable—since returning from The Hundred, she has claimed 14 wickets in eight matches, and the four‑for against Hampshire marked her third such haul in that period. Charley Phillips added to the pressure, delivering a rapid three‑wicket burst that saw Rhianna Southby, Abi Norgrove and Amanda‑Jade Wellington fall in three consecutive overs. Hampshire ultimately managed 251, a score that set the stage for a tense chase.
When the Blaze began their innings, the opening partnership of Sarah Bryce and Tammy Beaumont exploded onto the scene. Over the first 15 overs they accumulated 95 runs with apparent ease, putting the required run‑rate well within reach. Their aggressive intent forced Hampshire to rethink their bowling strategies, but the Blaze’s momentum was briefly halted when Wellington spun a tight over that saw both Bryce sisters dismissed—Sarah caught at deep square and her sister Kathryn taken at slip. Tammy Beaumont, a former England opener, continued to anchor the chase.
Supported by all‑rounder Georgia Elwiss, she navigated the middle overs with poise, despite being dropped three times and surviving a close stumping chance. Beaumont’s composure was rewarded with a half‑century—her fifth of the campaign—before she fell lbw to Wellington, triggering a brief collapse that saw three wickets tumble in just 26 balls.
With 30 runs still required and the wickets falling, the Blaze found themselves needing 17 from the final two overs. Emma Jones, who had already contributed a quickfire 34 off 25 balls, stepped up as the match‑defining finisher.
She displayed a blend of power and precision, launching a reverse pull and a straight drive to the boundary, then sweeping a four on the very last ball to seal the victory. Even a run‑out on the third ball of the final over could not derail her resolve. Jones’s unbeaten 34 proved the perfect complement to the earlier contributions of Beaumont and Elwiss, and her calm under pressure ensured the Blaze crossed the finish line with exactly the required runs.
The final ball was a moment of pure drama: a clean sweep that sent the crowd into a frenzy and cemented the Blaze’s status as the season’s most successful side. Beyond the statistics, the match highlighted several key narratives.
The Blaze’s ability to bounce back after early setbacks—both in the batting and bowling innings—demonstrated depth in their squad and a winning mentality. Players like Grace Ballinger and Charley Phillips showed that disciplined, economical spells can lay the groundwork for a chase, while high‑impact performers such as Lucy Higham and Emma Jones proved that match‑winning moments often come from those who can seize the initiative when the pressure peaks. The victory also adds a historic layer to the Blaze’s résumé. Winning the Metro Bank One Day Cup completes a rare domestic treble, a feat that few teams have achieved in the modern era of women’s cricket.
Their season, marked by consistent performances across formats, underscores the growing competitiveness and professionalisation of the women’s game in England. Looking ahead, the Blaze will aim to carry this momentum into the next season, with many of the key contributors now firmly established as leaders within the squad.
The experience gained from navigating high‑pressure situations—particularly the nerve‑wracking final over—will serve them well in future domestic and international contests. For fans and analysts alike, the match will be remembered as a textbook example of how a combination of disciplined bowling, aggressive batting, and clutch finishing can turn a closely contested final into a historic triumph.
The Blaze’s domestic treble not only celebrates their skill and resilience but also sets a benchmark for other counties aspiring to replicate such comprehensive success. In summary, the Blaze’s 2024 campaign culminated in a spectacular climax: a last‑ball, run‑a‑minute victory over Hampshire that secured the Metro Bank One Day Cup and completed a domestic treble. The match showcased stellar individual performances, strategic brilliance, and the unyielding spirit of a team determined to finish the season on top.