Tim Seifert produced an imperious 72 off 38 balls to steer the Manchester Super Giants to The Hundred title after a five-wicket victory over the Trent Rockets in an incredible final at Lord's that went down to the last three balls.
The opener notched the fastest fifty in men's Hundred final history and was aided by cameos from opening partner Paul Walter (22 off 14), captain Jos Buttler (23 off 14) and a crucial knock from Leus Du Plooy (27no off 18) to chase down their opponents' substantial score of 158.
Two late wickets from Mohammed Amir (3-29) gave the Rockets hope, leaving the Super Giants needing three runs off the last five balls, but spinner Liam Dawson resisted the pressure and smashed a six with three balls to go to seal the title for MSG.
The victory secured the Super Giants their maiden Hundred title after beating SunRisers Leeds in the eliminator on Friday, preventing the Rockets from becoming the first team to win both the men's and women's Hundred after
Rockets openers Duckett (31 off 24) and Allen (15 off 13) - who were afflicted by the low-scoring Lord's pitch, which has seen a first-innings average of just 141 during the 2026 Hundred - managed just 33 from the powerplay but seemed to have settled into their innings before Super Giants spinner Noor Ahmad (3-33) dismissed both openers in a game-changing four deliveries that took the Rockets from 48-0 to 52-2.
The batting side, though, rebounded through the impressive innings of Anuerin Donald (38 off 19), before a spell of three wickets in 11 balls - including a comedic run out that saw the captain Sam Billings dismissed - left them reeling at 95-5.
Useful cameos from Lewis Gregory (32 off 16) and Mitch Santner (20no off 16), though, helped the Rockets to a defendable score of 158 after their 100 balls.
Super Giants openers Seifert and Walter (22 off 14) - the latter of whom smashed 80 off 46 balls in the eliminator - gave their side a brilliant start to the run chase, notching their fifty partnership off just 26 balls.
Seifert was spared his blushes after an incredible one-handed diving Finn Allen catch was overruled by the third umpire after his foot brushed the boundary rope, but his partner Walter was sent packing just three deliveries later when he was caught on the boundary by Duckett to end the 66-run opening wicket stand.
Seifert, undeterred, continued his stellar innings and raced to a stunning 24-ball fifty, combining effectively with both Buttler and Du Plooy before his dismissal, but the wickets of Heinrich Klaasen (11 off 9) and Michael Bracewell (0 off 2) in successive balls to Amir set up a tantalising finale, with the Super Giants needing three off Ben Sanderson's last five balls.
Two dots in the first two balls of the last five increased the tension and pressure on tail-ender Dawson, but the England international resisted and smashed the game-winning maximum with the next ball to win the title for his side and cap off the 2026 Hundred.
Manchester Super Giants captain Jos Buttler, speaking to Your Site:
"Mixture of emotions - the excitement and euphoria of winning it, a little bit of relief after the last few balls there - but fantastic effort from everyone to lift the trophy. I think we deserve it.
"I enjoyed [captaining]. It's a little bit more stressful, but captaining a great bunch of guys with a bowling attack that's really varied.
"It was crucial that we broke some really important partnerships and that went a long way to winning the game.
"We've had some brilliant performances from everyone. The two boys at the top of the order since Aiden [Markram] hasn't been here have been outstanding - but it's also been the wicket-taking ability,
"We're very well-marshalled off the field by a great coaching team as well. Tom Moody, Justin Langer and everyone have been brilliant - I'm proud of everyone involved."
Watch the three-Test series between England and Pakistan live on Your Site Cricket from Wednesday (11am first ball at Headingley). .
