Seifert demolition job sets up Super Giants for maiden men’s Hundred title
Manchester Super Giants triumphed in the final of the men’s Hundred, surviving a late wobble to beat Trent Rockets by five wickets
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A new name has done the trick. Manchester Super Giants – once known as the Originals, now part of the tournament’s IPL-ification – triumphed in the final of the men’s Hundred, surviving a late wobble to beat Trent Rockets by five wickets. Tim Seifert set up victory with 72 off 38 balls; Liam Dawson completed it with two balls remaining, a six to seal it.
The New Zealand opener turned Jos Buttler into a support act in a chase of 159, his scarily high backlift producing seven sixes and a 23-ball half-century. The 31-year-old launched far higher than any of the Rockets, their innings defined by useful cameos. Noor Ahmad sparkled with the ball for the Super Giants, taking three for 33, but this was Seifert’s night.
The Rockets, who were going for a double after their women’s side had triumphed earlier in the piece, did offer a serious scare at the close. Seifert departed with 22 balls remaining, 23 still required, and the Super Giants refused to cruise. Mohammad Amir removed Heinrich Klaasen and Michael Bracewell, and with three required off the last over, Dawson struck air with his first two balls. It would be third-time lucky, Ben Sanderson sent over deep midwicket to close a tournament that should have been won minutes earlier.
Lord’s was a psychedelic place before kick-off. Ella Eyre had the thankless task as musical guest while the two sides warmed up yards away, daytime fireworks in full flow. This was a second consecutive men’s final for the Rockets but they had just the one survivor from last year: Northamptonshire’s Sanderson. Their run to this point had been fueled largely by the runs of Ben Duckett while the Super Giants had enjoyed the fruits of an England pace triumvirate: Josh Tongue, Sonny Baker and Gus Atkinson. With Buttler deciding to bowl, Duckett against the quicks – what felt like the key battle at the start of the day – was first up.
Duckett welcomed the fuller length from Atkinson and Baker, getting the scoop out for a couple of sixes, and was grateful for a drop on 23; the left-hander reverse-swept the ball to Tongue, his England and Nottinghamshire teammate, who erred at short third. Duckett, who slapped 141 against India on this ground in July, looked on for a big one, putting on 48 for the first wicket alongside Finn Allen.
Ahmad decided otherwise. The left-arm wrist-spinner struck with his first ball, getting Allen holed out at long-off, but the delivery to Duckett moments later would’ve belonged in a red-ball game. A fizzing wrong’un caught the inside-edge before finding Buttler’s gloves, Duckett gone for 31. Another Ahmad googly later in the innings accounted for Australia’s Tim David, whose difficult tournament – 90 runs from eight knocks for the £350,000 signing – ended with a first-ball edge to the sharp Buttler, leaving the Rockets on 91 for four after 59 deliveries.
In a match packed with seasoned internationals it was the uncapped Aneurin Donald who gave the Rockets their biggest lift. He didn’t let Ahmad bother him, sweeping hard for six, while a Baker short ball was hooked into the crowds, too. His 19-ball 38 included some miscommunication with Sam Billings, prompting the captain’s run out, but the Rockets could call upon a strong lower order for the finish.
Mitch Santner’s unbeaten 20 took him to a season’s batting average of 146. Lewis Gregory, who hit the winning runs when the Rockets won the tournament four years ago, was brutal with a 16-ball 32.
It looked a decent score, one to at least set up a thrilling finale, but Seifert was in a hurry, taking 14 off Amir’s first over and pulverising the leg-side. He appeared a goner on 33 after finding Allen by the leg-side rope; the Rockets man leapt beyond the boundary before flicking it back into play for Calvin Harrison to complete the catch. The decision went upstairs but was adjudged not out due to Allen flicking the rope in the buildup.
Seifert celebrated reaching his half-century by slogging Harrison into the second tier of the Mound Stand, with the Super Giants getting to 87 for one off 50 balls. Their control grew when Buttler went stratospheric against Harrison with back-to-back sixes, but an attempt at a third cost him when he found long-on. Would this be a game-changing moment? It was very nearly the case, but Dawson got it right at the end.

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