The Blaze Women have finished at the top of the ECB Women’s One-Day Cup 2026 league table and secured their place in the final. They collected 60 points from 16 matches, winning 13 games and losing three, with a net run rate of +0.971. Their campaign has included a number of convincing performances, along with a few difficult games that tested the team during the league stage. The Blaze will now meet Hampshire Women in the final on September 19 in Southampton. The two teams have already played twice this season, making the final another meeting between two sides that know each other well.
A Strong Start Gave The Blaze Early Confidence
The Blaze opened their campaign with a five-wicket win over Lancashire Women on April 15 through the DLS method. Lancashire made 223, while The Blaze reached 148/5 to complete the chase. They faced their first defeat against Yorkshire Women three days later, when Yorkshire scored 280/9 and The Blaze were bowled out for 210, losing by 70 runs. The team quickly recovered against Essex Women on April 25, chasing 213 and finishing on 215/7 to win by three wickets. Their next match was another high-scoring contest, with The Blaze making 303/7 to beat Warwickshire Women by three wickets after Warwickshire posted 302/5.
The winning performances continued into May as The Blaze built a strong position in the table. On May 2, they defeated Durham Women by 92 runs after putting 240/8 on the board and bowling Durham out for 148. Two days later, they chased Surrey Women’s 164 and finished on 166/5 to win by five wickets. Somerset Women were their next opponents on May 13, and The Blaze again completed a successful chase, reaching 224/4 after Somerset made 222/9. On May 15, they faced Hampshire Women and won by three wickets after chasing 209 and finishing on 211/7.
A Strong Winning Run Put The Blaze in Control
The Blaze continued their good run when the competition resumed in June. Against Surrey Women on June 13, they successfully chased 252/9 and finished on 253/5 to win by five wickets. Their next match against Lancashire Women did not go their way, with Lancashire making 239 and The Blaze being dismissed for 211 to lose by 28 runs. The team responded in their next game against Yorkshire Women on June 23. Yorkshire were bowled out for 150, and The Blaze reached 151/6 to secure a four-wicket victory and add another important result to their campaign.
The later part of the league produced more strong results for The Blaze. They scored 356/4 against Durham Women on August 19 and won by 59 runs through the DLS method. Warwickshire Women were then beaten by 70 runs on August 26 after The Blaze made 282/7 and restricted them to 212. On September 6, The Blaze chased Somerset Women’s 192 and reached 193/4 to win by six wickets. Hampshire stopped them on September 9 by chasing 250/3 after The Blaze scored 249/7, but the team finished the league stage strongly by beating Essex Women by nine wickets on September 11 after Essex were dismissed for 159.
Georgia Elwiss Leads the Batting
Georgia Elwiss has been the leading run-scorer for The Blaze in the supplied tournament figures, with 566 runs. Her contribution has added stability to a batting group that has produced several big totals during the league stage. The Blaze have shown that they can score heavily when batting first and also have the ability to chase challenging targets. Their successful chases against teams such as Essex, Surrey and Somerset have been an important part of their strong league record. The batting unit has also benefited from having several players who can contribute in different situations.
Kathryn Bryce has also made a valuable contribution with the bat during the tournament. She has scored 522 runs in 13 matches at an average of 37.67 and a strike rate of 86.59. Bryce has recorded three half-centuries and one century in the competition. Her numbers show the role she has played in providing runs at a steady rate while also keeping the scoring moving. With Elwiss and the other batting options in the squad, The Blaze have had enough depth to build strong totals and handle pressure during run chases.
A Reliable Bowling Attack Has Been Key
The Blaze have also received regular contributions from their bowling group throughout the competition. Charley Phillips has taken 26 wickets and is the team’s leading wicket-taker in the supplied figures. Grace Ballinger follows with 23 wickets, while Kirstie Gordon has claimed 19 wickets. Lucy Higham has also taken 18 wickets, giving The Blaze four bowlers who have made a significant impact during the league stage. Their combined performances have helped the team take wickets at important moments and restrict opposition batting line-ups.
The bowling unit has been particularly important when The Blaze have defended competitive totals. Their ability to remove batters and prevent long partnerships has helped them control several matches. Phillips, Ballinger, Gordon and Higham have all provided wicket-taking options, allowing the team to share the workload across the campaign. This variety has been useful during a long tournament, where different match situations require different bowling choices. With the final now approaching, the performance of this group will again be an important part of The Blaze’s plans.
International Experience Adds Strength to The Blaze
The Blaze have several experienced players in their squad, giving the team a strong mix of knowledge and skill. Tammy Beaumont, Charli Knott, Kathryn Bryce, Nat Sciver-Brunt and other experienced names have been part of high-level cricket. Their experience can be useful when the pressure rises, especially in a final where every part of the game can become important. These players can also provide guidance to teammates and help the side deal with different situations during the match.
The experience within the squad also gives The Blaze flexibility in how they approach games. Different players can take responsibility depending on whether the team is batting first, chasing a total or trying to defend a score. The Blaze have already played 16 league matches and won 13 of them, showing the consistency they have maintained across the tournament. They now have one final challenge against Hampshire Women. The experience available in the squad will be important as they prepare for another high-pressure meeting.
A Deep Squad Gives The Blaze Plenty of Options
The Blaze have a wide squad with players capable of contributing in different areas of the game. Marie Kelly, Orla Prendergast, Emma Jones and Michaela Kirk add batting depth, while Tammy Beaumont and Prisha Thanawala provide further options. Charli Knott and Kathryn Bryce bring all-round ability, and Ella Claridge, Lucy Higham and Georgia Elwiss add more choices to the team. Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amy Wheeler and Cassidy McCarthy also form part of the squad, giving the side a mixture of experience and different playing styles.
The remaining squad members include Sarah Bryce, Amy Jones, Kirstie Gordon, Grace Ballinger, Charley Phillips and Josie Groves. This gives The Blaze a large group to choose from for the final. The combination of batting options, all-rounders and wicket-taking bowlers has helped the team manage a demanding league campaign. Their first-place finish with 60 points reflects the results they have produced across the season. With the final coming against Hampshire, the team will now have to decide how to use those options in their biggest match of the tournament.
Can The Blaze Finish the Job and Lift the Trophy?
The Blaze Women will face Hampshire Women in the ECB Women’s One-Day Cup final on September 19 in Southampton. The two sides have already met twice during the league stage, with The Blaze winning the first meeting on May 15 by three wickets after chasing Hampshire’s 209. Hampshire then came out on top in their second meeting on September 9, winning by seven wickets after The Blaze posted 249/7. The final will therefore be their third meeting of the tournament and will decide the destination of the trophy.
The Blaze enter the final after finishing first in the league with 60 points from 16 matches. Their 13 wins have come through contributions from both the batting and bowling groups, with Georgia Elwiss leading the run-scoring and several bowlers producing strong wicket-taking numbers. Charley Phillips has taken 26 wickets, while Grace Ballinger, Kirstie Gordon and Lucy Higham have also made important contributions. After a successful league campaign, The Blaze now have one final match remaining against Hampshire Women in Southampton.
The Blaze Women’s Road to the ECB Women’s One-Day Cup Final 2026 Fixtures
April 15, 2026: Lancashire Women vs The Blaze Women — The Blaze Women won by 5 wickets via DLS
April 18, 2026: Yorkshire Women vs The Blaze Women — Yorkshire Women won by 70 runs
April 25, 2026: Essex Women vs The Blaze Women — The Blaze Women won by 3 wickets
April 29, 2026: The Blaze Women vs Warwickshire Women — The Blaze Women won by 3 wickets
May 2, 2026: The Blaze Women vs Durham Women — The Blaze Women won by 92 runs
May 4, 2026: Surrey Women vs The Blaze Women — The Blaze Women won by 5 wickets
May 13, 2026: Somerset Women vs The Blaze Women — The Blaze Women won by 6 wickets
May 15, 2026: Hampshire Women vs The Blaze Women — The Blaze Women won by 3 wickets
June 13, 2026: Surrey Women vs The Blaze Women — The Blaze Women won by 5 wickets
June 17, 2026: Lancashire Women vs The Blaze Women — Lancashire Women won by 28 runs
June 23, 2026: Yorkshire Women vs The Blaze Women — The Blaze Women won by 4 wickets
August 19, 2026: The Blaze Women vs Durham Women — The Blaze Women won by 59 runs via DLS
August 26, 2026: The Blaze Women vs Warwickshire Women — The Blaze Women won by 70 runs
September 6, 2026: Somerset Women vs The Blaze Women — The Blaze Women won by 6 wickets
September 9, 2026: The Blaze Women vs Hampshire Women — Hampshire Women won by 7 wickets
September 11, 2026: Essex Women vs The Blaze Women — The Blaze Women won by 9 wickets
September 19, 2026: Hampshire Women vs The Blaze Women — Final, Southampton
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