The Blaze completed an impressive domestic treble by edging out Hampshire in a nail‑biting finale to the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s tournament. The Trent Bridge outfit had already hoisted the Vitality Blast and the Vitality T20 County Cup, but the one‑day final tested their resolve to the limit. With 17 runs required from the last two overs and just two runs needed off the very last ball, Emma Jones emerged as the heroine, finishing unbeaten on 34 from 25 deliveries and striking the decisive 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 standout spell, claiming 4‑49 and helping to keep Hampshire – the 2025 losing finalists – to a total of 251.
Hampshire’s innings was anchored by solid contributions from Ella McCaughan and Freya Kemp, both of whom reached the fifty‑run mark. After winning the toss, The Blaze employed a disciplined opening spell featuring the miserly figures of Grace Ballinger and Charley Phillips, who together yielded only 11 runs in the first five overs. However, Hampshire’s opening partnership, featuring the in‑form Maia Bouchier and McCaughan, began to shift momentum, stitching together an 84‑run stand.
McCaughan, in particular, displayed confidence, hammering the ball around for her first half‑century since June. Bouchier, who had been dismissed for a duck earlier, could not add another century to her name as she was caught on the long‑on boundary, followed shortly by a catch by Georgia Adams that was directed straight to mid‑off and subsequently taken by Higham. The Blaze settled back as McCaughan and Kemp forged a commanding 67‑run partnership during the middle overs, taking the score to 166‑2 by the 32nd over. Yet The Blaze’s experience and tactical acumen began to shine through.
Higham struck again, claiming the third and fourth wickets of the innings by stumping Kemp and then taking a brilliant catch at mid‑on to dismiss Naomi Dattani, who had been caught by Kirstie Gordon. Gordon’s figures of 4‑49 marked her third four‑for in eight matches since returning from The Hundred, bringing her tally to 14 wickets in that span. Charley Phillips added to the pressure, removing Rhianna Southby, Abi Norgrove and Amanda‑Jade Wellington in three consecutive overs, which saw Hampshire’s momentum stall and their total capped at 251.
In response, the chase was anchored by a powerful partnership between Sarah Bryce and Tammy Beaumont. Over a 15‑over spell, the duo dismantled the Blaze bowling attack, amassing a 95‑run stand with apparent ease. Wellington, however, managed to break through the 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, continued to keep the scoreboard ticking.
The former England opener was fortunate throughout the innings, surviving three dropped catches and a stumping chance before finally being dismissed lbw by Wellington, a wicket that triggered a brief collapse of three wickets in just 26 balls. With 30 runs still required, Kirstie Gordon fell, leaving the equation at 17 runs needed from the final two overs.
Emma Jones rose to the occasion. She unleashed a spectacular reverse pull and a clean straight drive, both finding the boundary, and even after a run‑out on the third ball of the final over, she kept her composure.
The climax arrived on the very last delivery when Jones executed a sweeping four, sealing a dramatic victory for The Blaze in a match that will be remembered for its tension and high‑quality cricket. The triumph not only added the Metro Bank One Day Cup to The Blaze’s trophy cabinet but also cemented their status as the dominant force in women’s domestic cricket for the season. Their ability to recover from precarious positions, combined with individual brilliance from players like Emma Jones, Lucy Higham, and the steady contributions of Tammy Beaumont and Georgia Elwiss, highlighted a well‑balanced side capable of performing under pressure.
The Blaze’s treble – Vitality Blast, Vitality T20 County Cup, and the One Day Cup – showcases a rare consistency across formats and underscores the depth of talent within the squad. Looking ahead, The Blaze will aim to carry this momentum into the upcoming season, while Hampshire will reflect on a valiant effort that fell just short.
Both teams displayed a high standard of skill, strategic nous, and resilience, promising an exciting future for women’s county cricket.