Seifert’s Six-Hitting Masterclass Powers Manchester Super Giants to Historic Hundred Crown

Tim Seifert announced himself at Lord’s with a breathtaking display of power-hitting, smashing seven sixes in a 38-ball 72 to guide Manchester Super Giants to their maiden Hundred title in a tense five-wicket victory over Trent Rockets on Sunday night.

Adding another glorious chapter to Manchester’s rich sporting heritage ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/2BNQ8wIvAB

— Manchester Super Giants (@ManchesterSG100) August 16, 2026

Chasing 159 for victory, the Super Giants reached their target with two balls to spare, sealing a remarkable turnaround for a franchise that had been on the brink of elimination just a fortnight ago. Their run to the title featured five consecutive wins, a streak that coincided with Jos Buttler assuming the captaincy after Aiden Markram returned home for personal reasons.

“We were under pressure a couple of weeks ago but the character in the dressing room has been outstanding,” Buttler said after lifting the trophy. “To win five in a row and take the title is special.”

Seifert and Walter Lay the Foundation

The inclusion of Essex’s Paul Walter at the top of the order proved a masterstroke. His quickfire 22 off 14 balls continued a remarkable season that has seen him accumulate 247 runs in five innings at a strike-rate of 179. His left-right opening combination with the right-handed Seifert added 66 runs in just 31 balls, effectively breaking the back of the chase before the halfway stage.

“They went a long way to winning us the tournament,” Buttler said of the opening pair.

Seifert was in an aggressive mood from the outset, driving the first ball of the chase through cover for four before smearing the fourth delivery over the leg side for six. He exchanged words with Mohammad Amir after taking the left-arm quick for 14 runs in his first over, setting the tone for a contest that rarely relented in intensity.

The New Zealander survived a moment of controversy on 33 when Finn Allen tumbled over the boundary rope at midwicket and parried the ball back to Calvin Harrison, who took a stunning one-handed catch. Television umpire Martin Saggers ruled it six, determining that Allen’s foot had brushed the advertising toblerone, and Seifert pressed on.

He found able support from Buttler, who contributed 21 before holing out to long-off off Harrison, and Leus du Plooy, who added a composed 16. Mitchell Santner, Seifert’s international team-mate, was the only bowler to contain him, yet the left-arm spinner was curiously deployed for only 15 balls. Seifert eventually fell for 72, the joint-highest score in a Hundred final, reaching for Amir’s wide yorker.

Super Giants Make Hard Work of Final Stretch

With three runs required off the final nine balls, Manchester appeared to have the game sewn up. Yet they made incredibly hard work in the closing stages. Heinrich Klaasen picked out deep midwicket off Amir, who then trapped Michael Bracewell lbw to leave the Super Giants teetering. Liam Dawson twice swung and missed at Ben Sanderson before finally clearing Aneurin Donald on the rope with a hefty blow over deep midwicket, sealing the win with two balls unused.

Noor Ahmad Turns the Screw

Earlier, Trent Rockets had reached 33 without loss in the powerplay before a stroke of luck saw Ben Duckett badly dropped by Josh Tongue at short third man off Dawson. The introduction of Noor Ahmad, who had taken only five wickets across eight group games and Friday’s Eliminator, changed the contest entirely.

The Afghan wrist-spinner removed both openers within four deliveries. Finn Allen skied his first ball to long-off, and Duckett departed via inside edge onto his back pad, with Buttler completing the catch. Donald counter-attacked, lap-sweeping Noor for four before landing a six-four double when the spinner stayed on for consecutive overs, but the Rockets’ innings began to unravel.

Noor struck a third time when Tim David, whose 90-run season proved a major letdown after his £350,000 acquisition, edged a googly to Buttler. Donald then yorked himself for 38 off 19 while attempting to charge Dawson, and the Rockets had lost 5 for 47 in a frantic 32-ball passage.

Gregory Leads Late Recovery

Lewis Gregory, who played for Manchester last season when they were still the Originals, led a rebuilding effort with Mitchell Santner worth 46 runs in 25 balls. He dented Noor’s figures with consecutive boundaries before hauling three leg-side sixes, finishing with 32 off 16. Santner and Craig Overton struck late boundaries to push the Rockets past 150, with Sonny Baker taking wickets off the final two balls of the innings.

The result marked the first time either Manchester team – men’s or women’s – had won a Hundred trophy, ending the Super Giants franchises’ long wait for silverware spanning seven IPL seasons and four SA20 editions.

Brief scores: Trent Rockets 158 for 8 (Donald 38, Gregory 32, Duckett 31; Ahmad 3-33, Baker 2-34) lost to Manchester Super Giants 162 for 5 (Tim Seifert 72, Walter 22, Buttler 21; Amir 3-29) by five wickets.

                                               

Relevant news