Manchester Super Giants win maiden Hundred title beating Trent Rockets

Three balls remained in the final over. After two consecutive dot balls that heightened the tension at Lord's, England international Liam Dawson resisted the pressure and smashed a six over cow corner to seal a five-wicket victory for the Manchester Super Giants. The maximum ended a tense finale and secured the franchise its maiden men's Hundred title.

The victory follows two previous runners-up finishes for the Super Giants. While the finish was a "last-gasp" affair, the foundation was laid by a dominant individual performance from New Zealander Tim Seifert, who scored 72 off 38 balls. His innings included the fastest fifty in the history of the men's Hundred final, reached in just 24 balls, including seven sixes.

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The result prevents the Trent Rockets from achieving a men's and women's double, although the Rockets women had already demolished SunRisers Leeds earlier on Sunday to claim their title. For Rockets captain Sam Billings, the loss ends a personal run of three consecutive titles, having previously won with the Oval Invincibles.

The match was shaped by a tactical gamble from Super Giants captain Jos Buttler, who took over leadership after Aiden Markram returned to South Africa for personal reasons. Buttler opted to bowl first despite a trend where the previous three winners of the men's Hundred final had chosen to bat. This decision forced the Rockets to navigate a low-scoring Lord's pitch that had seen a first-innings average of only 141 during the 2026 tournament.

The Rockets initially seemed settled, with Ben Duckett contributing 31 off 24 balls. However, spinner Noor Ahmad dismantled the top order in a game-changing sequence of four deliveries, taking the Rockets from 48-0 to 52-2 by dismissing both openers. Ahmad finished with 3-33, including the dismissal of star finisher Tim David. David, who struggled throughout the campaign with only 90 runs across eight knocks, departed for a first-ball edge to Buttler.

The Rockets' innings was salvaged by a mix of experienced cameos and an unexpected spark from the uncapped Aneurin Donald, whose 38 off 19 balls provided the team's biggest lift. Despite a "comedic" run-out of captain Sam Billings, useful contributions from Lewis Gregory (32 off 16) and Mitch Santner (20no off 16) pushed the Rockets to a total of 158-8.

In the chase, Seifert nearly altered the course of the final early on. On 33, he was involved in a disputed boundary catch where Finn Allen leaped beyond the rope and flicked the ball back into play for a teammate to complete the catch. The third umpire overruled the dismissal, ruling that Allen had brushed the boundary rope during the process.

The Super Giants appeared to be cruising at 87-1 off 50 balls, aided by Paul Walter (22 off 14) and Buttler (23 off 14). However, a late collapse sparked by Mohammed Amir—who took 3-29—saw Heinrich Klaasen (11 off 9) and Michael Bracewell (0 off 2) fall in successive balls. This wobble left the Super Giants needing three runs off the final five balls of the match.

The win marks a fourth consecutive Hundred title for global director of Cricket Tom Moody, who previously won three with the Invincibles.

Final Match Summary: Manchester Super Giants vs Trent Rockets

Player	Role	Performance	Key Impact
Tim Seifert	MSG Batter	72 (38 balls)	Fastest fifty in men's final history
Noor Ahmad	MSG Bowler	3-33	Triggered collapse from 48-0 to 52-2
Aneurin Donald	Rockets Batter	38 (19 balls)	Top scorer for Rockets (uncapped)
Liam Dawson	MSG Batter	Winning 6	Sealed title with 3 balls remaining
Mohammed Amir	Rockets Bowler	3-29	Induced late-game wobble for MSG

While the victory was a celebration for the Manchester side, the focus for several key players shifts immediately to the international stage. Seamers Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue, along with Sonny Baker, were praised by coach Justin Langer for their preparation despite the looming Test schedule. Atkinson and Tongue are expected to transition from the Hundred podium to the first Test against Pakistan, which begins this Wednesday, August 19, at Headingley.

Strategic Gains and Award Recognition

The championship victory was a result of meticulous planning, which captain Jos Buttler attributed to the "auction and the planning" led by global director of cricket Tom Moody. Buttler told BBC Two that Moody is an "expert" at building balanced teams, noting that Moody achieved three titles at the Oval before repeating the success in Manchester. Beyond the trophy, the Super Giants' dominance was recognized individually; Tim Seifert was named player-of-the-tournament following a month of high-scoring performances, including his final-day demolition of the Rockets' attack.

The Rockets, while missing out on the men's title, did not leave Lord's empty-handed. According to BBC Two, the franchise claimed the Hundred Helix, a new trophy awarded to the best overall franchise combining performances from both the men's and women's competitions.

This pace attack, which coach Justin Langer described as "ripping blokes," provided the necessary support for Noor Ahmad's spin. According to Sky Sports, the Super Giants reached the final after first defeating SunRisers Leeds in the eliminator on Friday, where Paul Walter had contributed 80 off 46 balls.

For the England internationals involved, the celebration was brief. Coach Justin Langer noted the discipline of his seamers, who prepared for the final despite an impending red-ball commitment. For Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue, the next step is a transition to the first Test against Pakistan, which is scheduled to begin this Wednesday, August 19, at Headingley.