Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s final: The Blaze beat Hampshire in final-ball thriller to secure domestic treble

This report, originally published by sportsamo.com, details how The Blaze etched their name into the annals of women’s domestic cricket history, completing an unprecedented domestic treble by conquering Hampshire in a heart-stopping Metro Bank One Day Cup final, decided on the very last ball.

The Trent Bridge-based powerhouse had already hoisted the Vitality Blast and Vitality T20 County Cup trophies earlier in the season, but this final showdown proved to be their toughest test yet. Pushed to their absolute limits, The Blaze needed a daunting 17 runs from the final two overs, culminating in a nerve-shredding two runs required off the last delivery of the match.

The hero of the hour was undoubtedly Emma Jones, whose ice-cool demeanor and unbeaten 34 runs from a mere 25 balls ultimately sealed the victory. Jones struck the winning runs, capping off a chase of 252 that was expertly anchored by half-centuries from England stalwarts Tammy Beaumont and Georgia Elwiss, setting the stage for the dramatic finale.

Earlier in the day, it was the spin wizardry of Lucy Higham that laid the groundwork for The Blaze’s eventual triumph, as she claimed a magnificent 4-49 to restrict a formidable Hampshire batting line-up to 251. For Hampshire, who were agonizingly losing finalists in the 2025 edition as well, valiant fifties from Ella McCaughan and Freya Kemp ultimately proved to be in vain, leaving them with a bitter taste of déjà vu.

Winning the toss, The Blaze captain, Kirstie Gordon, made the strategic decision to bowl first, a choice that immediately paid dividends. The new-ball pairing of Grace Ballinger and Charley Phillips delivered an opening spell of suffocating control, allowing Hampshire just 11 runs in the first five overs. Their disciplined lines and lengths, coupled with astute field placements, ensured a pressure cooker start for the Southern Vipers, denying any early scoring opportunities and setting a cautious tone for the innings.

However, the highly touted opening pair of Maia Bouchier, who arrived with a reputation for explosive form, and Ella McCaughan slowly but surely began to wrest control back. Their 84-run stand was a testament to their resilience and growing confidence. Bouchier, who was controversially dropped on a duck in the slips off a challenging chance, looked to make the most of her reprieve, while McCaughan, playing with a newfound freedom, confidently pinged the ball around the ground. Her fifty was particularly significant, marking her first since June, signaling a welcome return to form and providing a crucial anchor for Hampshire’s innings, peppered with elegant drives and powerful cuts.

Bouchier, despite her early reprieve, couldn’t make it three centuries in a row, falling victim to Higham when she holed out to long-on, attempting to accelerate. Georgia Adams, Hampshire’s captain, followed shortly after, slapping a catch straight to mid-off, both pivotal wickets claimed by the ever-impressive Higham. These dismissals provided The Blaze with a much-needed breakthrough, momentarily stemming the flow of runs.

However, the hosts kicked back with determination as McCaughan, now well-set, found an able partner in the dynamic Freya Kemp. The pair dominated the middle overs, forging a crucial 67-run stand that propelled Hampshire to a commanding 166-2 in the 32nd over. Their partnership was a masterclass in rotating the strike and punishing loose deliveries, with Kemp, a renowned power-hitter, unleashing some ferocious blows to the boundary, threatening to set an unassailable total. But The Blaze, known for their tactical acumen and experience in high-stakes encounters, utilized their deep understanding of the game to pull things back dramatically.

Lucy Higham, demonstrating why she has been a revelation since her return from The Hundred, added wickets three and four of the afternoon. Her deceptive spin accounted for Kemp, who was expertly stumped after being lured out of her crease, and then Naomi Dattani, caught brilliantly by a diving Kirstie Gordon at mid-on. Higham’s spell was a turning point; her 4-49 was her third four-wicket haul in just eight matches since rejoining The Blaze, showcasing her immense value as a strike bowler capable of breaking dangerous partnerships at crucial junctures.

The momentum definitively swung back in The Blaze’s favor as pacer Charley Phillips delivered a devastating spell towards the backend of the innings. In a remarkable display of fast bowling, Phillips dismissed Rhianna Southby, Abi Norgrove, and Amanda-Jade Wellington in three successive overs. Her accuracy and variations completely dismantled Hampshire’s lower middle order, transforming a promising total into a precarious one. Hampshire, who once looked set for a score well over 270, slumped dramatically, ultimately managing to post 251 – a competitive total, but one that felt short of their earlier potential given the late collapse.

In response, The Blaze began their chase with an air of confident authority. The opening pair of Sarah Bryce and Tammy Beaumont, a formidable combination of youthful exuberance and seasoned experience, made mincemeat of the Hampshire bowlers for the first 15 overs. They demonstrated exceptional synergy, rotating the strike effortlessly and punishing anything remotely loose, putting on a blistering 95-run stand with relative ease. Their aggressive yet controlled approach laid a rock-solid foundation, suggesting The Blaze were on course for a comfortable victory.

However, the introduction of Hampshire’s star leg-spinner, Amanda-Jade Wellington, dramatically spun the game on its head. Wellington, known for her ability to pick up crucial wickets, delivered a game-changing over that sent shockwaves through The Blaze’s dressing room. First, she dismissed Sarah Bryce, caught at deep square leg attempting to sweep, a rare miscalculation from the opener. Then, in a moment of sheer brilliance, she followed up by having Kathryn Bryce, Sarah’s sister, caught at slip by a magnificent, diving effort. Wellington’s double strike in a single over shifted the momentum back towards Hampshire, proving why she is considered one of the most dangerous spinners in the domestic circuit.

Despite the sudden collapse, Tammy Beaumont, with the help of the composed Georgia Elwiss, bravely kept things ticking over. Beaumont, a former England opener renowned for her resilience, lived a charmed life during her innings, benefiting from no fewer than three dropped catches and surviving a close stumping chance. These moments of luck, though frustrating for Hampshire, allowed her to continue accumulating runs and keep her side in the hunt. However, her luck eventually ran out. Having scored her fifth half-century of a stellar campaign, Beaumont was finally trapped plumb lbw by Wellington, attempting a sweep shot. Her dismissal sparked a mini-collapse, with three crucial wickets falling in just 26 balls, plunging The Blaze into genuine trouble and adding immense pressure to their chase.

With 30 runs still needed and wickets tumbling, the tension became palpable. Kirstie Gordon, The Blaze’s captain, was caught, leaving her side needing 17 from the last two overs. The atmosphere was electric, with every ball becoming a do-or-die moment. This was the stage for Emma Jones to etch her name into folklore. Showing nerves of steel, Jones took the sting out of Hampshire’s attack with a stunning display of power hitting. A ridiculous reverse pull shot sailed to the boundary, followed by a majestic straight drive that also found the ropes, instantly reducing the required runs and injecting belief back into her team. Despite a run-out on the third ball of the final over, which added another layer of drama, Jones remained unfazed. With two runs needed off the last ball, she calmly swept a full delivery for a boundary, sending her teammates and the Trent Bridge faithful into rapturous celebration, securing an unforgettable victory in a truly nerve-filled match.

This historic domestic treble for The Blaze is a testament to their exceptional talent, unwavering determination, and tactical brilliance throughout the season. It firmly establishes them as the dominant force in women’s regional cricket, a feat that will be celebrated for years to come. For Hampshire, it’s another heartbreaking final defeat, but their resilience and individual brilliance, particularly from McCaughan and Kemp, signal a team on the cusp of glory, perhaps destined for their own championship title in the near future. The thrilling climax of the Metro Bank One Day Cup final not only showcased the pinnacle of domestic women’s cricket but also highlighted the immense growth and competitive spirit within the sport, promising an even more exciting future for fans and players alike.