Hampshire Women produced a disciplined all-round performance to secure a 23-run victory over The Blaze Women in the Women’s T20 Blast 2026 at the Rose Bowl, Southampton. After building a competitive total through several useful partnerships, Hampshire’s bowlers backed up the batters with a clinical display, regularly taking wickets to prevent The Blaze from mounting a sustained chase. Although a few Blaze batters threatened to turn the contest around, Hampshire maintained control throughout to register another valuable win.
Opting to bat first, Hampshire Women had a mixed start as Ella McCaughan was dismissed for 7 from 7 balls by Charli Knott, leaving the hosts at 26/1 in 3.1 overs. Captain Georgia Adams immediately took charge of the innings and stitched together a crucial 35-run partnership for the second wicket with Abi Norgrove. Adams looked fluent throughout her knock, striking 49 from just 30 deliveries, including seven boundaries and two sixes, before she was caught by Kathryn Bryce off Charli Knott with Hampshire on 61/2 in 7.5 overs, narrowly missing out on a well-deserved half-century.
Following the skipper’s dismissal, Abi Norgrove continued to anchor the innings. She first added 38 runs alongside Francesca Sweet, who contributed 17 from 20 balls, before Sweet was caught by Josie Groves at 99/3 in 14.2 overs. Hampshire then lost Rhianna Southby cheaply for 2, dismissed by Groves after adding only two runs, making it 101/4 in 14.5 overs. Norgrove’s patient innings of 29 from 34 deliveries ended at 114/5 in 16.1 overs, when Grace Ballinger claimed an important wicket to slow Hampshire’s progress.
The late overs belonged to Hampshire’s lower middle order. Nancy Harman injected momentum with a quick 16 from 9 balls, including a boundary and a six, sharing a useful stand with Amanda-Jade Wellington before departing at 135/7 in 18.4 overs. Wellington then provided the finishing flourish, smashing 18 from only 11 balls with four boundaries, although she fell in the penultimate over after being caught by Michaela Kirk off Charli Knott. Poppy Tulloch remained unbeaten on 2, while Daisy Gibb added an unbeaten 6 from 3 balls, including a boundary, guiding Hampshire to 151/8 from their 20 overs, a total that looked competitive on a surface offering something for both batters and bowlers.
The Blaze bowlers shared the workload effectively. Charli Knott was the standout performer, producing impressive figures of 3/22 from her four overs, dismissing Ella McCaughan, Georgia Adams and Amanda-Jade Wellington. Grace Ballinger supported well with 3/25 in three overs, removing Abi Norgrove, Nancy Harman and Naomi Dattani. Josie Groves chipped in with 2/17 from three overs, accounting for Francesca Sweet and Rhianna Southby. Kathryn Bryce bowled tidily for 0/23, while Charley Phillips, Georgia Elwiss, and Kirstie Gordon kept the scoring under reasonable control despite finishing without multiple wickets.
In reply, The Blaze needed a brisk start but suffered an early setback when Marie Kelly, after striking 33 from 20 balls with six boundaries, was bowled by Daisy Gibb at 44/1 in 4.3 overs. Kelly’s aggressive innings had given the visitors early momentum, but Hampshire responded well. Georgia Elwiss and Kathryn Bryce attempted to rebuild, adding 23 runs for the second wicket, before Bryce was dismissed for 15 from 16 balls by Amanda-Jade Wellington, leaving The Blaze at 67/2 in 8.5 overs.
Hampshire tightened their grip as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Charli Knott managed only 2, becoming Georgia Adams’ first victim at 70/3, while Elwiss departed for 22 from 23 balls, caught by Southby off Wellington, with the score on 77/4 in 11.2 overs. Sarah Bryce struggled to accelerate and was dismissed for 9, while Emma Jones contributed 9 from 10 balls before becoming Wellington’s second wicket. By the time Michaela Kirk was trapped leg before by Adams for just 1, The Blaze had slipped to 93/7 in 15 overs, leaving them with a mountain to climb.
Despite the collapse, captain Kirstie Gordon fought until the end with an unbeaten 19 from 11 balls, hitting three boundaries, while Grace Ballinger offered valuable support with 16 not out from 19 deliveries. However, Hampshire’s disciplined attack never allowed the required rate to come down. Josie Groves was dismissed for a duck, and The Blaze eventually finished on 128/8 in their 20 overs, falling 23 runs short of the target.
Hampshire’s bowling performance was built on collective discipline rather than individual brilliance. Amanda-Jade Wellington delivered the decisive spell, finishing with 2 wickets for just 16 runs from her four overs, removing Kathryn Bryce and Sarah Bryce at crucial moments. Captain Georgia Adams also impressed with 4/16 from four overs, claiming Charli Knott and Michaela Kirk to derail the middle order. Daisy Gibb provided the breakthrough with 1/23, Bex Tyson kept things tight with 1/32, while Poppy Tulloch returned an economical 0/10 from two overs. Naomi Dattani bowled her three overs with control despite remaining wicketless, conceding 31 runs.
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