The Blaze completed a remarkable domestic treble by narrowly defeating Hampshire in a last‑ball thriller to claim the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s title. The Trent Bridge‑based outfit had already celebrated victories in the Vitality Blast and the Vitality T20 County Cup, but the final of the one‑day competition proved to be their toughest challenge yet. With 17 runs required from the last two overs and just two runs needed off the very last delivery, the match hinged on a single innings of composure and power.
Emma Jones rose to the occasion, delivering an unbeaten 34 off 25 balls and striking the decisive runs after Tammy Beaumont and Georgia Elwiss had already contributed half‑centuries in the chase of a target of 252. The drama began with Hampshire posting a respectable total of 251, thanks largely to a disciplined spell from Blaze bowler Lucy Higham, who claimed four wickets for 49 runs. Higha m’s breakthrough spell helped keep the opposition’s run‑rate in check after they had been cruising at 84 runs for the loss of one wicket, thanks to an opening partnership between the in‑form Maia Bouchier and Ella McCaughan. McCaughan, who notched her first fifty since June, guided the innings with a series of confident drives, while Bouchier, after a brief duck, was unable to convert her early momentum into a third consecutive century, falling short when she was caught on the long‑on boundary.
The Blaze’s fielding unit, led by the economical spells of Grace Ballinger and Charley Phillips, restricted Hampshire to just 11 runs in the first five overs, but the hosts soon recovered. Mid‑innings, Hampshire’s middle order, featuring Freya Kemp and McCaughan again, built a solid 67‑run partnership that saw the score climb to 166‑2 by the 32nd over. At this juncture, the Blaze’s experience and tactical acumen began to surface.
Higham, who had already taken two wickets, returned to claim the third and fourth wickets of the innings. She effected a stumping of Kemp and then saw Naomi Dattani caught brilliantly by fast‑bowler Kirstie Gordon at mid‑on.
Gordon, who has taken 14 wickets in eight matches since returning from The Hundred, added a fourth wicket to her tally, delivering a spell of 4‑49 that marked her third four‑for in this period. Meanwhile, pace bowler Charley Phillips struck a devastating blow by removing Rhianna Southby, Abi Norgrove and Amanda‑Jade Wellington in three successive overs, causing Hampshire’s momentum to collapse and leaving them stranded at 251. In response, the Blaze’s chase began confidently.
Openers Sarah Bryce and Tammy Beaumont dismantled the new ball attack, accumulating 95 runs in partnership and putting the required run‑rate well within reach. Their aggressive strokeplay set the tone for the chase, but the opposition fought back when Wellington, the leg‑spinner, managed to dismiss both Bryce sisters in a single over – Sarah was caught at deep square leg and Kathryn Bryce fell to a superb slip catch.
Despite these setbacks, Beaumont, a former England opener, continued to anchor the innings with composure. She survived three dropped catches and a potential stumping, demonstrating her experience under pressure. However, her luck finally ran out when Wellington trapped her lbw, triggering a mini‑collapse that saw three wickets tumble in the span of 26 balls.
With the scoreboard reading 225‑7 and 30 runs still required, the Blaze still had a chance. Kirstie Gordon fell caught, leaving the equation at 17 runs needed from the final two overs. Emma Jones, who had already contributed a quick‑fire 34, took charge. She unleashed a series of attacking shots – a reverse pull that raced to the boundary and a straight drive that cleared the ropes – to chip away at the deficit.
Even after a run‑out on the third ball of the final over, Jones remained undeterred. On the very last delivery, she executed a perfect sweep that raced to the fence, securing the winning runs and sealing a dramatic victory for The Blaze. The triumph not only completed a historic domestic treble for The Blaze but also highlighted the depth of talent within the squad. Emma Jones’ composure under pressure, Lucy Higham’s incisive bowling, and the aggressive yet disciplined batting of Beaumont and Elwiss all combined to produce a performance that will be remembered for years.
The win also underscored the competitive nature of women’s county cricket, with Hampshire putting up a valiant fight throughout the match. As the season concludes, The Blaze can reflect on a campaign that showcased resilience, skill, and the ability to deliver when the stakes were highest, cementing their status as one of the premier sides in English women’s cricket.