"Wheels in Motion" as Hampshire Look to Finalise Overseas Signing for 2027

Paul Prichard's side missed out on Metro Bank One Day Cup glory against the Blaze - losing the game off the final ball of a pulsating final

Amanda-Jade Wellington played a key role in taking the game that far.

The Aussie - who has 23 caps across all formats for Australia - has been sensational for Hampshire throughout the summer.

And Prichard tells The Hawk that the county is intent on doing all it can to ensure she returns to Southampton in 2027.

"That's what we're hoping," says Prichard.

"The wheels are in motion, let's put it that way.

"Hopefully it's something that will definitely happen."

That will be music to the ears of both Hampshire supporters and also her team-mates.

Wellington, or 'Wello' as she's known, has been nicknamed 'the magician' by Hampshire skipper, Georgia Adams.

And Saturday gave another illustration of why it's the most apt of monikers.

The Adelaide-born leg-spinner took three for 36 in the final, another priceless contribution in a season full of them.

The influence she has had on such a young dressing room can't be overstated.

And despite their defeat against The Blaze, Prichard believes the experiences of this young side over the past five months, will ultimately serve to make them stronger.

"I said the other day if we cast our minds back to when we were in Desert Springs in late March, thinking about what we wanted to achieve and how - it's nowhere near what we have achieved," he says.

"I can't be more proud of the group - the whole, wider group.

"What we've achieved this year was above and beyond what we expected, and quite rightly so, they've exceeded all expectations.

"We've had four debutants, and everyone who's come in has done well.

"They're young, they're learning, they're eager, and they get in a battle and stay in a battle.

"They're relentless."

Prichard is expecting some squad movement in the coming months, as Hampshire look to build on a season that saw them reach the final of the One Day Cup and also Finals Day in the T20 Blast.

Both ultimately ended in disappointment.

But there's no doubt that the foundations have been laid for future success.

"That's what we're building - a squad with a mixture of youth and experience," he says.

"We're majoring on youth at the moment, and the young players who've come in have done great.

"I'm excited for them. We're building what will be a very good squad, and they'll have learned a lot from today.

"We'll be stronger for it.

"There'll be a few (players) coming in hopefully, but it won't be a massive change."

Spare a thought for Daisy Gibb after today's final.

The 20-year-old was charged with the responsibility of bowling the final over - a huge responsibility for a young cricketer who has seen her development fast-forwarded across the past two seasons.

"She kept us in it," says Prichard.

"Five needed off the last over, or whatever it was, and she got it down to the last ball - how good is that?

"Fair play to all our bowlers. They were relentless, they kept coming back and kept us in the game all the way through. It was great, a fantastic display."