The Blaze completed an extraordinary domestic treble by edging out Hampshire in a last‑ball showdown to claim the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s title. The Trent Bridge outfit had already celebrated victories in the Vitality Blast and the Vitality T20 County Cup, but the one‑day final demanded every ounce of resolve. After finding themselves needing 17 runs from the final two overs and then just two runs off the very last delivery, it was Emma Jones who rose to the occasion, hammering an unbeaten 34 off 25 balls and striking the decisive runs. Her heroics capped a chase that had already been bolstered by solid half‑centuries from Tammy Beaumont and Georgia Elwiss, who together steered the side toward the target of 252.
The innings began with Lucy Higham delivering a spellbinding performance with the ball, claiming four wickets for 49 runs and helping to keep Hampshire – who were also the runners‑up in the 2025 edition – to a total of 251. Both Ella McCaughan and Freya Kemp contributed valuable fifties, adding depth to the opposition’s batting.
After winning the toss, the Blaze opted to bowl, and the early overs were dominated by the tight, economical figures of Grace Ballinger and Charley Phillips, who together leaked just 11 runs in the first five overs. However, Hampshire’s opening partnership, featuring the in‑form Maia Bouchier and Ella McCaughan, began to steady the ship with an 84‑run stand. McCaughan, who had not reached a half‑century since June, displayed confidence, rotating the strike and finding the boundary with regularity.
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, shortly before Georgia Adams drove a straight shot to mid‑off, both dismissals credited to Higham. The hosts then settled into a rhythm as McCaughan and Kemp forged a 67‑run partnership during the middle overs, taking the score to 166‑2 by the 32nd over. Yet the Blaze’s experience and tactical acumen began to surface. Higham claimed the third and fourth wickets of the innings, first by stumping Kemp and then by securing a brilliant catch of Naomi Dattani at mid‑on, taken by the ever‑reliable Kirstie Gordon.
Gordon, who has amassed 14 wickets in eight matches since returning from The Hundred, recorded her third four‑for of the season 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 successive overs, which helped to cap Hampshire’s total at 251.
In response, the Blaze’s chase got off to a flying start thanks to an explosive partnership between Sarah Bryce and Tammy Beaumont. Over a 15‑over spell, the duo dismantled the bowling attack, adding 95 runs with apparent ease.
Their momentum was briefly halted when Wellington managed to dismiss both Bryce sisters in a single over – Sarah was caught deep square, while Kathryn fell gracefully to a slip catch. Beaumont, supported by Elwiss, continued to anchor the innings.
The former England opener was fortunate throughout the chase, surviving three dropped catches and even a stumping opportunity. However, her luck eventually ran out when she was given out lbw to Wellington, marking her fifth half‑century of the season but also triggering a mini‑collapse as three wickets fell in just 26 balls. With the required run‑rate climbing, the Blaze found themselves needing 30 runs with only a handful of wickets remaining. Kirstie Gordon fell to a catch, leaving the side with 17 runs required from the final two overs.
It was at this critical juncture that Emma Jones, already unbeaten on 34, took charge. She unleashed a spectacular reverse pull and a crisp straight drive, each finding the boundary and easing the pressure. Even after a run‑out on the third ball of the final over, Jones remained composed, and she sealed the victory by sweeping a four off the very last delivery, sending the crowd into rapturous applause.
The triumph not only secured the Metro Bank One Day Cup but also cemented the Blaze’s status as the dominant force in women’s domestic cricket for the season, having already lifted the Vitality Blast and the Vitality T20 County Cup. Their ability to dig deep under pressure, combined with standout individual performances – from Higham’s four‑wicket haul to Jones’s clutch finishing – highlighted a squad rich in talent and resilience.
As the season draws to a close, the Blaze’s treble stands as a testament to their strategic planning, depth of batting, and a bowling unit capable of both containment and breakthrough wickets at crucial moments. The victory will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most thrilling finishes in recent women’s cricket history, showcasing the sport’s growing competitiveness and the high calibre of its athletes.