Tim Seifert smashed 72 off 38 balls at Lord’s on Sunday to carry Manchester Super Giants to their first men’s Hundred title, beating Trent Rockets by five wickets with two balls to spare.
Seifert’s innings contained seven sixes and four fours. He drove the first ball of the chase through cover for four and pulled the fourth over the leg side for six, adding 66 in 31 balls with opener Paul Walter, whose 22 off 14 extended a season return of 247 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 179.
Chasing 159, the Super Giants closed on 162 for 5 from 98 balls. They made hard work of the finish: needing three from the final three balls, Heinrich Klaasen holed out to deep midwicket off Mohammad Amir, who then trapped Michael Bracewell lbw. Liam Dawson settled it by clearing midwicket for six. Amir finished with 3 for 29.
Noor Ahmad’s spell turns the final
Trent Rockets had posted 158 for 8, reaching 33 for 0 in the powerplay before Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad changed the game, taking 3 for 33, ESPNcricinfo reported. The Rockets lost 5 for 47 in a frantic 32-ball collapse. Aneurin Donald counter-attacked for 38 off 19 at No. 3 before yorking himself charging Dawson, while Lewis Gregory made 32 and Ben Duckett 31.
The title ends a long wait for the franchise. The Super Giants had lost their two previous men’s Hundred finals as Manchester Originals, and it is the first Hundred trophy won by either of Manchester’s men’s or women’s teams. It is also the first silverware for the Super Giants group of franchises, spanning seven IPL seasons and four SA20 campaigns.
The side reached the final the hard way, on the brink of elimination after a third straight group defeat two weekends ago before winning five in a row — a turnaround that coincided with Jos Buttler taking over the captaincy after Aiden Markram flew home for personal reasons.
