The Blaze completed a remarkable domestic treble by edging out Hampshire in a nail‑biting finish to the Metro Bank One Day Cup women's competition. The Trent Bridge‑based outfit had already secured the Vitality Blast and the Vitality T20 County Cup earlier in the season, but the one‑day final proved to be a true test of character. After posting a daunting target of 252, the Blaze found themselves needing 17 runs from the final two overs and just two runs from the very last ball. It was Emma Jones who rose to the occasion, remaining unbeaten on 34 off 25 deliveries and striking the winning runs after Tammy Beaumont and Georgia Elwiss had already contributed half‑centuries in the chase.
The match began with Lucy Higham delivering a game‑changing spell, taking 4‑49 and helping to restrict Hampshire – who were also the runners‑up in the 2025 edition – to 251. Hampshire’s innings featured solid contributions from Ella McCaughan and Freya Kemp, both of whom posted fifties.
The Blaze won the toss and, thanks to the ultra‑defensive tactics of Grace Ballinger and Charley Phillips, managed to keep the scoring rate low in the opening five overs, conceding just 11 runs. However, Hampshire’s opening partnership, anchored by the in‑form Maia Bouchier and McCaughan, began to shift momentum with an 84‑run stand. McCaughan, who had not reached a half‑century since June, displayed confidence by finding the gaps and reaching her fifty with a series of crisp drives. Bouchier, who had been dismissed for a duck earlier, was unable to continue her streak of centuries, falling to a long‑on catch after Georgia Adams sent the ball straight to mid‑off, both dismissals credited to Higham.
The middle overs saw McCaughan and Kemp dominate, adding a further 67 runs and taking the score to 166‑2 by the 32nd over. Yet The Blaze’s experience shone through. Higham claimed the third and fourth wickets of the innings, first by stumping Kemp and then by a brilliant catch at mid‑on taken by Naomi Dattani, who was herself caught by Kirstie Gordon. Gordon, a spinner who has taken 14 wickets in eight matches since returning from The Hundred, recorded her third four‑for of the season with figures of 4‑49.
Charley Phillips added to Hampshire’s woes by removing Rhianna Southby, Abi Norgrove and Amanda‑Jade Wellington in three consecutive overs, effectively crumbling the batting line‑up and leaving the hosts stranded at 251. In response, the Blaze’s chase began with a partnership between Sarah Bryce and Tammy Beaumont that dismantled the bowlers over 15 overs, adding 95 runs with apparent ease. Wellington attempted a comeback by taking the wickets of both Bryce sisters in a single over – Sarah was caught at deep square leg while her sister Kathryn was elegantly taken at slip. Beaumont, supported by Georgia Elwiss, kept the run‑rate steady.
The former England opener was fortunate throughout the innings, surviving three dropped catches and a stumping opportunity. Her luck finally 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, the Blaze lost another wicket as Gordon was caught, leaving the equation at 17 runs needed from the final two overs. Emma Jones, already settled at the crease with 34 not out, took charge. She unleashed a spectacular reverse pull and a clean straight drive that raced to the boundary, reducing the pressure dramatically.
Although a run‑out occurred on the third ball of the final over, Jones remained composed. The climax arrived on the very last delivery when she executed a sweeping four, sealing a dramatic victory for The Blaze in a match that will be remembered for its tension and resilience. The triumph not only added a prestigious one‑day title to The Blaze’s growing trophy cabinet but also highlighted the depth of talent within the squad.
Players like Emma Jones, Tammy Beaumont, and Georgia Elwiss demonstrated the ability to perform under immense pressure, while the bowling unit, led by Lucy Higham and Kirstie Gordon, proved decisive at crucial moments. The win cements The Blaze’s status as a dominant force in women’s domestic cricket, having claimed three major titles in a single season – a feat that underscores their consistency, strategic acumen, and the collective hunger for success that drives the team forward.