The Hundred 2026 Final

Manchester Super Giants claimed their maiden Hundred title thanks in no small part to Tim Seifert. The wicketkeeper-batter delivered several commanding performances throughout the tournament and saved one of his best for the decisive clash against Nottingham-based Trent Rockets at Lord’s. So, how did The Hundred 2026 final unfold?

The Hundred 2026 Final: Long-Awaited Success for the Super Giants

Tim Seifert proved to be the driving force behind Manchester Super Giants’ successful title bid. The New Zealander smashed seven sixes on his way to 72 runs from just 38 balls, earned the Player of the Match award and finished the season with 394 runs to his name. However, the road to the trophy was anything but a walk in the park. The Super Giants could easily have missed out on The Hundred final altogether: three consecutive defeats in the group stage left the team on the brink of crashing out of the tournament. Those losses were followed by five straight victories, however, carrying the Manchester side all the way to the coveted title.

There were several reasons behind such a dramatic turnaround in form. The first was Seifert’s quality, while the second was the introduction of Essex all-rounder Paul Walter at the top of the order, where he struck up an excellent partnership with the New Zealander. The third – and equally important – factor was a change in leadership. Aiden Markram was unable to continue travelling with the team for personal reasons, so Jos Buttler stepped in as captain. As it turned out, Buttler made several crucial calls that had a major impact on the team’s performances, including the decision to promote Walter into the opening pair.

“The combination of Seifert and Walter worked extremely well. They played a major part in the victory,” Buttler said.

Walter is a left-handed all-rounder who also bowls medium pace. Together, he and Seifert put on a 66-run opening stand from just 31 balls on Sunday, with the Kiwi dispatching the very first ball for four before launching the fourth for six. When Seifert was eventually dismissed, the Super Giants still needed 23 runs from 22 balls. Liam Dawson ultimately got them over the line, although he made rather hard work of it, sealing the tournament victory for his team.

The triumph marked a historic first for Manchester cricket in the franchise era. Neither the men’s nor the women’s side had previously reached the summit by lifting a prestigious trophy in The Hundred or any of the other major competitions in which they had taken part.

Seifert’s Title-Winning Masterclass in The Hundred 2026 Final

Tim Seifert had never played at Lord’s before this season, but that did nothing to cramp his style. In his very first appearance at the ground, against London Spirit, he scored 67 runs from 45 deliveries. The Hundred 2026 final proved just as successful for the batter, although there was one particularly tense moment. With 33 runs to his name, Seifert looked to be on his way back to the pavilion after launching a Craig Overton delivery towards deep midwicket. Finn Allen leapt beyond the boundary and managed to flick the ball back towards Calvin Harrison, who completed a spectacular one-handed catch. However, the replay showed Allen’s foot brushing the boundary cushion, and the umpire awarded a six instead.

There were no further close calls. Seifert powered his way to 72, clearing the rope several more times and matching the all-time record for the highest score in a men’s Hundred final. When he finally departed, it looked as though Manchester already had the victory in the bag. However, the closing stages were far from straightforward, and the Super Giants briefly lost their grip on the chase. Dawson swung and missed twice at deliveries from Ben Sanderson before finally clearing the boundary to seal the title with two balls to spare.

“This is my first time playing in this tournament, and it has been brilliant – an amazing month. We were a really well-balanced side right from the start. Every player stepped up and made a contribution whenever the team needed it,” Seifert said after the match.

Manchester Super Giants defeated Trent Rockets by five wickets. The Rockets posted 158 for eight from their 100 balls, but that total was not enough to secure the trophy. The Super Giants completed the chase on 162 for five before heading off to celebrate a historic triumph for Manchester – one in which their New Zealand star played a decisive role.