Seifert Powers Manchester Super Giants to First Men's Hundred Title

Manchester Super Giants won the men's Hundred for the first time after beating Trent Rockets by five wickets in a tense final at Lord's. Tim Seifert shaped the chase with 72 from 38 balls before Liam Dawson finished the match with a six over deep midwicket. Manchester reached their target of 159 with two balls remaining, converting a strong platform despite a late wobble.

Trent Rockets posted 158 for eight after Manchester captain Jos Buttler chose to field. Ben Duckett made 31, but left-arm wrist-spinner Noor Ahmad changed the innings with three wickets for 33. He removed Finn Allen with his first delivery, then found Duckett's inside edge with a wrong'un before later dismissing Tim David first ball. The Rockets were 91 for four after 59 deliveries and needed their lower order to rebuild.

Aneurin Donald provided 38 from 19 balls, Mitchell Santner finished unbeaten on 20 and Lewis Gregory added 32 from 16. Their contributions lifted Trent to a competitive total, but Seifert immediately reduced the pressure on Manchester by taking 14 from Mohammad Amir's opening set. His high backlift and leg-side power produced seven sixes and a half-century from only 23 balls.

There was a decisive review when Seifert, on 33, appeared to have been caught near the boundary. Allen had leapt outside the rope and relayed the ball to Calvin Harrison, but the decision was overturned because Allen was judged to have brushed the boundary during the sequence. Seifert then drove Manchester to 87 for one at the halfway point, while Buttler added consecutive sixes before being caught attempting a third.

The finish became much tighter after Seifert departed with 23 still required from 22 balls. Amir removed Heinrich Klaasen and Michael Bracewell, and Dawson missed the first two balls of the final set with three runs needed. He connected with the third, sending Ben Sanderson over the boundary to secure the championship. The result denied the Rockets a men's and women's double on finals day.

Manchester's victory also erased two previous runners-up finishes. The rebranded side completed the tournament with its first men's trophy, built on Ahmad's control and Seifert's acceleration before Dawson delivered the final blow. For Trent, a strong lower-order recovery and late bowling pressure were not quite enough to overturn the damage caused during the central phase of Manchester's chase.