The Blaze (women) vs Hampshire (women) – match 74, League One Final – at the Utilita Bowl, West End , Southampton (Hants) on Saturday 19 September 2026
The Blaze women won a final-ball thriller to lift their third domestic trophy of the season – pictured. Hampshire women were commended by commentators for ‘staying in contention’ until the ‘very end.’ Batting first, Ella McCaughan 78(97) and Freya Kemp 52(46) scored ‘fifty.’ Judged by commentators for best performance, Lucy Higham was awarded POTM for taking a 4-fer (4 wickets/conceding 49 runs.) Pivotal moment when Lucy Higham scored crucial runs ‘at-the-death.’ Also, when bowling Lucy Higham bagged Freya Kemp’s wicket, when stumped by Sarah Bryce. Turning to The Blaze women (when batting) Tammy Beaumont 74(112) and Georgia Elwiss 64(74) scored match-winning ‘fifties.’ Best Hants womens’ bowler was guest Australian Amanda-Jade Wellington 3/36. Post-match, pitch-side presenter Steve Watts lauded a ‘scintillating match.’ Commentators added that The Blaze won 75% of their matches across all formats – more wins this season than ever before – including both Vitality t20 cups: County cup and were crowned League-one champions. Finally, Australia’s Jess Jonassen (Yorks women) was awarded POTS for ‘taking 47 wickets and scoring 889 runs.’ Commentators: Michael ‘Mike’ McCann (Sports journalist) with Alice Davidson-Richards (Surrey women.) Weather: cloudy becoming cooler with added wind-chill 14-16C (Floodlights.)
Hampshire women wearing dark blue tops with yellow hoops, side-stripes and yellow batting pads; *skipper Georgia Adams; *[Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for The Blaze women]; *with guest international player Amanda-Jade Wellington (Australia A); *with Maia Bouchier & Freya Kemp (England); *Score 49/0 after 10 overs power-play; *Maia Bouchier steepled aerial, caught at long-on’ by Kathryn Bryce, from Lucy Higham; *Georgia Adams was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Kirstie Gordon, from Lucy Higham; *Score after 25 overs: 114/2; *Ella McCaughan went plumb ‘leg-before’ to left-armed seamer Grace Ballinger; *Left-handed batter Freya Kemp was stumped by Sarah Bryce, from Lucy Higham; *Abi Norgrove was caught at ‘extra cover’ by Georgia Elwiss, from Charley N Phillips; *Naomi Dattani was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Kirstie Gordon, from Lucy Higham; *Rhianna ‘Rhi’ Southby was bowled by Charley N Phillips; *Mis-timing ‘reverse-sweep,’ Amanda-Jade Wellington was clean-bowled by Charley N Phillips; *Short of second-run from final innings ball, Poppy Tulloch was ‘run-out’ by Cassidy McCarthy’s throw to keeper Sarah Bryce receiving at the striker’s end; Hampshire women batting: Ella McCaughan 78(97); Freya Kemp 52(46); Maia Bouchier 29(51); Rhianna ‘Rhi’ Southby 28(39); Poppy Tulloch 14(12); Daisy Gibb 10*not out(10); The Blaze women bowling: Lucy Higham 4/49/(10); Charley N Phillips 3/38(10); Orla Prendergast 1/29(5); Grace Ballinger 1/49(9);
The Blaze women wearing orange-and-black with black joggers; skipper Kirstie Gordon (Scotland international); *[Rhianna ‘Rhi’ Southby keeping wicket for Hants women]; *with Kathryn & Sarah Bryce (Scotland internationals); *with Orla Prendergast (Republic of Ireland); *Score 58/0 (vs49/0) after 10 overs power-play; *Sarah Bryce was caught at ‘square’ by Freya Kemp, from Amanda-Jade Wellington; *Five balls later, Kathryn Bryce was caught at ‘slip’ by diving Georgia Adams, from Amanda-Jade Wellington; *Score after 25 overs: 125/2 (vs 114/2); *Tammy Beaumont went plumb ‘leg-before’ to Amanda-Jade Wellington’s yorker; *Georgia Elwiss was caught at ‘long-off’ by Georgia Adams, from Bex Tyson; *Mistiming a ‘pull,’ Orla Prendergast was caught behind by Rhianna ‘Rhi’ Southby, from Poppy Tulloch; *Kirstie Gordon was caught at ‘short-fine’ by Amanda-Jade Wellington, from Bex Tyson; *Lucy Higham was ‘run-out’ from ‘extra-cover’ by Georgia Adams’ throw to Daisy Gibb receiving at the non-striker’s end; The Blaze women batting: Tammy Beaumont 74(112); Georgia Elwiss 64(74); Sarah Bryce 39(44); Emma Jones 34*not out (25); Hampshire women bowling: Amanda-Jade Wellington 3/36(10); Bex Tyson 2/46(10); Poppy Tulloch 1/55(10);
Match result: The Blaze(women) 254/7 @5 runs-per-over/target 252 from 50 overs) beat Hampshire (women) 251/9 (@5 r-p-o from 50 overs) by three wickets
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play @url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#mb1597631-0db0-4f34-8e67-299e16f7d7e3
*‘Metro Bank’ One Day Cup League One Results for 2026 @url: http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2026/09/21/metro-bank-one-day-cup-league-one-results-for-2026/
*Actual post-match photo
