The Blaze completed a remarkable domestic treble by edging out Hampshire in a heart‑stopping finish to the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s tournament. Having already captured the Vitality Blast and the Vitality T20 County Cup, the Trent Bridge‑based outfit faced a daunting chase of 252 runs in the final. After a roller‑coaster innings that saw them needing 17 runs from the last two overs and then just two runs off the very last ball, it was Emma Jones who delivered the decisive blows. Jones finished unbeaten on 34 off 25 deliveries, sealing the win after Tammy Beaumont and Georgia Elwiss had already contributed solid half‑centuries.
The match began with Lucy Higham producing a standout spell, taking 4 for 49 and helping to restrict Hampshire – who were also the 2025 runners‑up – to 251. Hampshire’s innings featured strong contributions from Ella McCaughan and Freya Kemp, both of whom notched fifties. The Blaze won the toss and, thanks to ultra‑defensive overs from Grace Ballinger and Charley Phillips, kept the scoring rate to a meagre 11 runs in the first five overs.
However, the opening partnership of the in‑form Maia Bouchier and McCaughan gradually shifted momentum, building an 84‑run stand. McCaughan, playing her first fifty since June, displayed confidence by finding the boundary with ease. Bouchier, who had been dismissed for a duck earlier, could not extend her streak of centuries as she was caught on the long‑on boundary shortly after Georgia Adams drove a straight ball to mid‑off, both dismissals credited to Higham. The middle overs saw McCaughan and Kemp dominate with a 67‑run partnership, taking the score to 166‑2 by the 32nd over.
At this stage, The Blaze began to apply pressure. Higham struck again, claiming the third and fourth wickets of the innings: she stumped Kemp and then induced a brilliant catch by Kirstie Gordon at mid‑on to dismiss Naomi Dattani. Gordon, who has taken 14 wickets in eight matches since returning from The Hundred, recorded her third four‑wicket haul of the season with figures of 4‑49. Charley Phillips added to Hampshire’s collapse, removing Rhianna Southby, Abi Norgrove and Amanda‑Jade Wellington in three consecutive overs, leaving the hosts stranded at 251.
In response, the chase was anchored by Sarah Bryce and Tammy Beaumont, who together dismantled the bowling attack over a 15‑over partnership, adding 95 runs with apparent ease. Their dominance was briefly interrupted when Wellington turned the tide, dismissing both Bryce sisters in a single over – Sarah was caught at deep square leg and Kathryn fell spectacularly at slip.
Beaumont, supported by Elwiss, continued to steer the innings forward. The former England opener was fortunate throughout, surviving three dropped catches and a stumping chance before finally being given out lbw to Wellington, which triggered a mini‑collapse of three wickets in 26 balls. With 30 runs still required, Gordon was caught, leaving the equation at 17 runs needed from the final two overs.
Emma Jones rose to the occasion. She struck a massive reverse pull and a clean straight drive, both reaching the boundary, and even after being involved in a run‑out on the third ball of the final over, she steadied the ship. The climax arrived with a sweeping four on the very last delivery, securing a nerve‑wracking win for The Blaze and cementing their domestic treble. The victory was not only a testament to the depth of The Blaze’s squad but also highlighted the impact of key performers across both bowling and batting departments.
Higham’s four‑wicket haul, Gordon’s consistent wicket‑taking since her Hundred comeback, and the composure displayed by the lower‑order batters under immense pressure were pivotal. For Hampshire, despite a valiant effort and notable contributions from Bouchier, McCaughan, and Kemp, the inability to finish the chase in the final moments proved costly. Overall, the final showcased the excitement and competitiveness of women’s domestic cricket in England. The Blaze’s achievement of a treble – winning the One Day Cup, the Vitality Blast, and the T20 County Cup in a single season – underscores their dominance and the growing standard of the women’s game.
Their triumph will undoubtedly inspire future generations and set a benchmark for other counties aiming for similar success in the coming years.