The Blaze completed an impressive domestic treble by narrowly defeating Hampshire in a nail‑biting finish to the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s tournament. Having already lifted the Vitality Blast and the Vitality T20 County Cup earlier in the season, the Trent Bridge‑based side were forced to dig deep in the final, needing 17 runs from the last two overs and then just two from the very last delivery. Emma Jones rose to the occasion, remaining unbeaten on 34 off 25 balls and striking the winning runs after Tammy Beaumont and Georgia Elwiss had already contributed half‑centuries in a chase of 252. The match began with Lucy Higham delivering a decisive spell, taking 4‑49 and helping to hold Hampshire – who were also the 2025 runners‑up – to a total of 251.
Both Ella McCaughan and Freya Kemp reached the fifty‑run mark, providing a solid foundation for the opposition. The Blaze won the toss and, thanks to the tight, economical bowling of Grace Ballinger and Charley Phillips, they conceded just 11 runs in the first five overs. However, Hampshire’s opening partnership, featuring the in‑form Maia Bouchier and McCaughan, gradually shifted momentum in their favour, compiling an 84‑run stand. McCaughan, hitting confidently around the ground, recorded her first half‑century since June.
Bouchier, who had been dismissed for a duck earlier, was unable to secure a third consecutive century when she was caught on the long‑on boundary, shortly before Georgia Adams struck a straight drive to mid‑off, both dismissals credited to Higham. The hosts then relaxed as McCaughan and Kemp dominated the middle overs, adding 67 runs together and taking the score to 166‑2 by the 32nd over. Yet The Blaze’s experience shone through in the death overs. Higham claimed the third and fourth wickets of the innings, first by stumping Kemp and then by catching Naomi Dattani at mid‑on, a catch taken by the ever‑reliable Kirstie Gordon.
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 also made a vital impact, dismissing Rhianna Southby, Abi Norgrove and Amanda‑Jade Wellington in three consecutive overs, which caused Hampshire’s momentum to stall and left them stranded at 251.
In reply, the Blaze’s chase was anchored by a powerful partnership between Sarah Bryce and Tammy Beaumont, who together amassed 95 runs in just 15 overs, easing the pressure of the target. Their partnership was briefly interrupted when Wellington, bowling a clever spell, dismissed both Bryce sisters in a single over – Sarah was caught at deep square leg and Kathryn was elegantly taken at slip.
Despite these setbacks, Beaumont, supported by Georgia Elwiss, continued to steer the innings forward. The former England opener was fortunate throughout the chase, surviving three dropped catches and a stumping opportunity. Her luck eventually ran out when she was given out lbw to Wellington, a dismissal that triggered a quick collapse of three wickets in 26 balls.
With 30 runs still required and the wickets falling, Kirstie Gordon was the next to go, leaving the Blaze needing 17 runs from the final two overs. Emma Jones, who had already contributed a quick‑fire 34, took charge. She produced a spectacular reverse pull and a crisp straight drive that both raced to the boundary, reducing the equation dramatically. Even after a run‑out on the third ball of the final over, Jones remained composed and, with a sweeping four on the very last delivery, sealed a dramatic victory for The Blaze.
The win not only secured the Metro Bank One Day Cup but also completed a historic domestic treble for The Blaze, underscoring their dominance across all three major women’s limited‑overs competitions this season. Their ability to perform under pressure, combined with standout individual performances from Emma Jones, Lucy Higham, Kirstie Gordon and the middle‑order contributions of Beaumont and Elwiss, highlighted a well‑balanced squad capable of delivering when it mattered most. The triumph will be remembered as a testament to resilience, skill, and the depth of talent within the Blaze side, cementing their place at the pinnacle of English women’s domestic cricket.