The Blaze Women produced a composed chase under pressure to defeat Hampshire Women by three wickets in the ECB Women’s One-Day Cup 2026 clash at Nottingham, sealing victory with 29 balls remaining after a competitive contest filled with crucial partnerships and momentum swings.
The match began with Hampshire Women looking to build a solid platform after being asked to bat, but The Blaze struck immediately through Georgia Elwiss and Charley Phillips. Rhianna Southby was trapped lbw by Elwiss for a duck at 1/2 in the opening over, and just three balls later Abi Norgrove also departed without scoring after Phillips removed her at 2/2. Hampshire Women suddenly found themselves in deep trouble early in the innings, but Ella McCaughan and captain Georgia Adams steadied the innings with patience and discipline. The pair absorbed the early pressure while slowly rotating strike to rebuild the innings.
McCaughan played an anchoring knock of 48 from 94 deliveries, hitting five boundaries, while Adams looked increasingly confident as the innings progressed. Their partnership carried Hampshire Women through the difficult phase before Ella McCaughan eventually fell lbw to Georgia Elwiss at 118/3 in 30.4 overs. By then, the innings had regained balance, and Georgia Adams continued leading from the front with a captain’s knock. Naomi Dattani supported well with 18 from 24 balls as the pair added another valuable stand before Dattani was run out at 142/4 in 35.5 overs.
Adams remained the backbone of the innings and reached a well-compiled 89 from 121 deliveries, striking nine boundaries in a controlled innings built around timing rather than aggression. Her partnership with Francesca Sweet proved vital during the latter stages as Hampshire looked to accelerate towards the finish. Sweet contributed an unbeaten 35 off 40 balls and ensured the scoreboard kept moving in the final overs.
However, The Blaze Women bowlers responded brilliantly at the death to stop Hampshire from fully capitalising. Georgia Adams eventually fell at 183/5 in 44.4 overs after being dismissed by Kathryn Bryce, while Amanda-Jade Wellington added only 3 before Kelly and Phillips combined for a catch at 189/6. Hampshire then lost wickets regularly in the closing overs as Linsey Smith was run out for 2, Poppy Tulloch fell to Charley Phillips, and Daisy Gibb was also run out late in the innings. Grace Ballinger cleaned up the tail by dismissing Bex Tyson for a duck, restricting Hampshire Women to 209 in their 50 overs.
For The Blaze Women, Charley Phillips delivered an impressive spell with 4 wickets, while Grace Ballinger picked up a crucial wicket. Kathryn Bryce and Georgia Elwiss claimed one wicket each, and the fielding unit also played a massive role with multiple runouts that prevented Hampshire from pushing beyond 220.
Chasing 210, The Blaze Women suffered an early setback when Marie Kelly was dismissed by Daisy Gibb for 3 at 6/1 in the second over. However, Tammy Beaumont once again showed her experience in the 50-over format and steadied the innings beautifully. Kathryn Bryce joined her and the duo rebuilt the chase intelligently, rotating strike and punishing loose deliveries. Bryce contributed an important 32 from 40 balls before Bex Tyson trapped her lbw at 65/2 in 13.5 overs. Tammy Beaumont continued anchoring the innings and found another reliable partner in Georgia Elwiss.
The pair guided The Blaze through the middle overs and kept the required rate comfortably under control. Elwiss added 21 from 28 deliveries before Amanda-Jade Wellington dismissed her at 116/3 in 24.4 overs. The turning point came through Tammy Beaumont’s composed half-century and the support from Orla Prendergast. Beaumont struck seven boundaries in her 57 off 86 balls and appeared set to finish the game before she was dismissed by Bex Tyson at 120/4 in 27.3 overs. Hampshire sensed an opportunity when Linsey Smith removed Sarah Bryce for 7, and Orla Prendergast also departed for 28 after a useful contribution.
At 162/6, the game briefly hung in balance, especially after Kirstie Gordon fell for just 1 to Tyson at 174/7 in 39.6 overs. But Emma Jones and Lucy Higham held their nerves superbly during the final phase of the chase. Jones played the decisive innings under pressure, remaining unbeaten on 37 from 30 deliveries with five boundaries at a strike rate above 123. Lucy Higham supported calmly with an unbeaten 15 from 18 balls as the pair guided The Blaze Women to 211/7 in 45.1 overs.
Hampshire Women bowlers fought hard throughout the chase, with Bex Tyson emerging as the standout performer with three wickets. Daisy Gibb and Linsey Smith also bowled economically and claimed one and two wickets respectively, while Amanda-Jade Wellington kept things tight and bagged a wicket through her ten overs.
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