Super Giants survive late wobble to win men’s Hundred

Seifert's masterclass sets the platform

The final was defined by Tim Seifert's destructive innings. The New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter struck seven sixes and four fours in his 72 off 38 balls, equalling Will Jacks' record for the highest score in a Hundred final. His assault began immediately, forming a 66-run opening stand off just 31 balls with Paul Walter, the hero of the Eliminator, to dismantle the Rockets' bowling attack.

Several of Seifert's sixes carried such force that spectators in the Lord's second tier were seen ducking for safety. The innings also featured a moment of high controversy: on 33, Finn Allen produced an astonishing relay catch on the boundary, only for replays to show his foot had brushed the rope before he jumped back into play. The reprieve proved costly for the Rockets, as Seifert added another 39 runs thereafter.

Seifert's form has been the story of the tournament's back end. He finishes as the competition's second-highest run-scorer with 394 runs at an average just shy of 50, behind only Mitchell Marsh. In the Super Giants' last five matches, his partnership with Walter has yielded stands of 74, 119, 128 and 66 — the only blip a duck in the Eliminator.

Rockets' innings: promising starts, no substance

After being put in, Trent Rockets reached 158-8 from their 100 balls — a total that ultimately proved below par on a good Lord's surface. Ben Duckett provided a solid platform with 31, but the innings unravelled in the space of four deliveries: captain Sam Billings was run out for seven, and Tim David fell first ball to Noor Ahmad (3-33).

Aneurin Donald then blitzed 38 off 19 balls, and cameos from Mitch Santner (20) and Lewis Gregory (32) lifted the total past 150. Yet no Rockets batter converted a start into a match-defining innings. Duckett was caught behind off a beauty from Ahmad, Allen holed out for 15, and Donald frustratedly played on to his own stumps off Liam Dawson. The lack of a substantial anchor innings contrasted sharply with Seifert's dominance for the opposition.

Chase, collapse, and a nerve-held finish

The Super Giants' reply began at a furious pace. Seifert and Walter's 66-run powerplay surge was followed by Jos Buttler's brief but electrifying 23 off 14, including three sixes, and Leus du Plooy's steady 27 not out. With the required run rate well under control, the game appeared won when the equation reduced to three runs needed from nine balls.

Then came the wobble. Mohammad Amir (3-29) dismissed Heinrich Klaasen — superbly caught by Donald on the boundary — and Michael Bracewell lbw in successive balls. Ben Sanderson followed with two dot balls, and suddenly the Super Giants needed three off three. The crowd of 27,416 roared as Dawson, facing his first two deliveries, swung and missed. On the third, he connected cleanly, sending the ball high over mid-wicket. It hung in the air, teasing a catch, but dropped just over the rope to spark wild celebrations.

Franchise history and the Rockets' double dream denied

The victory carries significant weight for the Old Trafford-based franchise. Renamed the Super Giants from this season after previously competing as the Originals, they had lost two previous men's finals — including to the Rockets in 2022, which remains Trent's sole men's title. This breakthrough win validates the rebrand and the investment behind it.

For the Rockets, the defeat completes a bittersweet edition. Having finished top of the group table and progressed straight to the final from their last group game on Monday, they were bidding to become the first franchise to win both the men's and women's Hundred trophies in the same year. The women's side had crushed Sunrisers for the title just hours earlier, but the men's team could not match that achievement.

Key performers and tournament context

Tim Seifert — Player of the Match for his 72 (38), tournament's second-highest scorer (394 runs, avg ~50).
Noor Ahmad — 3-33, crucial wickets of Duckett and Tim David.
Mohammad Amir — 3-29, turned the game in the final over.
Liam Dawson — ice-cool finishing six under maximum pressure.
Aneurin Donald — 38 (19) and a stunning boundary catch to dismiss Klaasen.
Paul Walter — 66-run opening stand with Seifert, continuing a prolific tournament partnership.

The final was played before a capacity crowd of 27,416 at Lord's on 16 August 2026, broadcast live on BBC Sport. The result caps a tournament marked by soaring temperatures and fluctuating attendances, themes explored in parallel coverage of the competition's peculiar summer.

What this means for The Hundred

Manchester's first title breaks the duopoly of previous winners and demonstrates the competitive balance the franchise model seeks. The Super Giants' turnaround — from two final defeats to champions under new ownership and identity — offers a template for franchise development.

For the Rockets, the failure to convert group-stage dominance into a final victory raises questions about knockout temperament. Their women's triumph shows the organisation's strength, but the men's side must address a pattern of promising starts without match-winning conversions.

Seifert's form, the emergence of Walter as a powerplay enforcer, and the depth shown by Buttler and du Plooy suggest the Super Giants have built a squad capable of sustained success. The 2026 edition will be remembered for a final that delivered drama, controversy, and a fittingly explosive conclusion to the men's competition.

What this means

The 2026 men's Hundred final delivered everything the competition aspires to: explosive batting, a contentious moment, a nerve-shredding finish, and a new name on the trophy. Manchester Super Giants' victory, forged in Tim Seifert's brutality and sealed by Liam Dawson's composure, ends years of final heartbreak for the franchise and denies Trent Rockets a place in history. As the tournament evolves, this final will stand as a benchmark for drama — and a reminder that in 100-ball cricket, no chase is ever truly over until the ball crosses the rope.