The Blaze completed an extraordinary domestic treble by edging out Hampshire in a heart‑stopping finish to the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s tournament. Having already hoisted the Vitality Blast and the Vitality T20 County Cup, the Trent Bridge‑based side faced a daunting chase of 252 runs in the final. The pressure intensified when they required 17 runs from the last two overs and then only two runs from the very last ball.
In the end, it was Emma Jones who delivered the decisive blow, remaining unbeaten on 34 off 25 deliveries and striking the winning runs after Tammy Beaumont and Georgia Elwiss had already contributed valuable half‑centuries. The match began with Lucy Higham delivering a spell‑binding performance for the Blaze, claiming four wickets for 49 runs. Her early breakthroughs helped restrict the Hampshire batting line‑up, who had previously been runners‑up in the 2025 edition, to a total of 251. Both Ella McCaughan and Freya Kemp added solid fifties, keeping the score within reach for the visitors.
After winning the toss, the Blaze employed a disciplined opening strategy, with Grace Ballinger and Charley Phillips conceding just 11 runs in the first five overs, demonstrating the miserly brand of cricket that would define the early phase of the game. Hampshire’s opening partnership, however, began to gain momentum as the in‑form Maia Bouchier and Ella McCaughan forged an 84‑run stand.
McCaughan, who had not reached a half‑century since June, struck the ball with confidence and celebrated her first fifty of the season. Bouchier, who had been dismissed for a duck earlier, was unable to extend her personal run of centuries, falling to a long‑on catch after Georgia Adams drove a lofted shot straight to mid‑off, both dismissals credited to Higham’s sharp fielding. The middle overs saw McCaughan and Kemp dominate, compiling a 67‑run partnership that took the scoreboard to 166‑2 by the 32nd over. Yet the Blaze’s experience and tactical acumen began to surface.
Higham, the spinner who has taken 14 wickets in eight matches since returning from The Hundred, claimed the third and fourth wickets of the innings. She trapped Kemp in a stumping and then dismissed Naomi Dattani with a brilliant catch by Kirstie Gordon at mid‑on. This spell marked Higham’s third four‑for in the current season, underscoring her pivotal role in the side’s bowling attack.
Meanwhile, pacer Charley Phillips delivered a rapid three‑over burst, removing Rhianna Southby, Abi Norgrove and Amanda‑Jade Wellington in successive deliveries, which caused Hampshire’s momentum to sputter and sealed their final total of 251. In response, the Blaze’s chase began brightly thanks to a powerful partnership between Sarah Bryce and Tammy Beaumont. The duo bulldozed through the bowling attack for 15 overs, accumulating a 95‑run stand with relative ease. Their aggressive intent set the tone for the chase, but Wellington fought back, dismissing both Bryce sisters in a single over – Sarah was caught at deep square leg and Kathryn fell spectacularly to a slip catch.
Despite these setbacks, Beaumont, a former England opener, continued to anchor the innings. She benefitted from three dropped catches and survived a stumping chance, showcasing both skill and a touch of fortune. Her innings, a composed half‑century, was the fifth of the campaign and kept the Blaze within striking distance. However, the middle phase of the chase turned turbulent when Wellington’s spin induced a quick succession of wickets.
Three wickets fell in just 26 balls, including Beaumont’s dismissal lbw to Wellington, which triggered a mini‑collapse. With 30 runs still required and the pressure mounting, the Blaze lost another wicket as Kirstie Gordon was caught, leaving the side needing 17 runs from the final two overs.
Emma Jones rose to the occasion. She struck a spectacular reverse pull and a crisp straight drive, both finding the boundary, and despite being involved in a run‑out on the third ball of the final over, she remained undeterred.
The climax arrived on the very last delivery when Jones, with nerves of steel, executed a sweeping four that sailed over the fielders, sealing a dramatic victory for the Blaze. The win not only secured the domestic treble for the Blaze but also highlighted the depth of talent across the squad.
Emma Jones’ composure under pressure, Lucy Higham’s incisive spell, and the aggressive top‑order contributions from Beaumont and Elwiss combined to produce a memorable finish. The match also underscored the competitive nature of women’s county cricket, with both teams displaying high‑quality skill, strategic nous, and moments of individual brilliance. As the Blaze celebrate their historic achievement, the broader cricketing community can look forward to more thrilling contests and the continued rise of the women’s game in England.