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 Trent Rockets women demolished SunRisers Leeds women earlier on Sunday.

Super Giants’ batters storm to title-clinching victory

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.

Buttler: We deserved Hundred title

Manchester Super Giants captain Jos Buttler, speaking to Sky Sports:

“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.”

England vs Pakistan Test series fixtures

• First Test (Headingley) – Wednesday August 19 – Sunday August 23 (first ball 11am)
• Second Test (Lord’s) – Thursday August 27 – Monday August 31 (first ball 11am)
• Third Test (Edgbaston) – Wednesday September 9 – Sunday September 13 (first ball 11am)

Watch the three-Test series between England and Pakistan live on Sky Sports Cricket from Wednesday (11am first ball at Headingley). Stream cricket and more top sport contract-free with NOW.

Trent Rockets looking to complete Hundred double after women’s side thrash SunRisers Leeds at Lord’s on Sunday afternoon; Test cricket returns from Wednesday, live on Sky Sports, as Joe Root’s England begin three-match series against Pakistan at Headingley

Jeremy Jacquet was the star as Liverpool enjoyed a confidence-boosting 2-0 win over Como in their final pre-season friendly at Anfield.

The 21-year-old defender was making his debut for the club after signing from Rennes in February and marked the occasion by scoring the second goal just before half-time to double the lead for Andoni Iraola’s side after Cody Gakpo had fired in the opener.

Gakpo set up Jacquet for his tap-in which proved to be the final act by the French youngster as he made way for fellow new arrival Ronald Araujo at half-time. The tempo dropped and that suited Como who played more of the football in the second half.

Liverpool had contrived to lose a two-goal lead against Monaco last week but there was no repeat – Ryan Gravenberch even hitting the crossbar late on. As well as Gakpo and Jacquet, Jeremie Frimpong and Rio Ngumoha were among those to impress for Iraola’s side.

There are others with work to do. Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz both scored against Monaco, but the former Newcastle striker faded here after a striking a post early on, while the German playmaker flattered to deceive. The real stuff begins next Sunday at St James’ Park.

Sunday 23rd August 4:00pm


Kick off 4:30pm

Key moments at Anfield

8 – POST! Isak strikes a bouncing ball against the foot of the far post

23 – GOAL! Frimpong brilliantly finds Gakpo to fire Liverpool ahead

44 – GOAL! Gakpo lays the ball across for Jacquet to tap it home

58 – CLOSE! Rodriguez fires a shot into the side-netting for Como

85 – CLOSE! Diao skims the Liverpool crossbar on the counter-attack

89 – BAR! Szoboszlai works it to Gravenberch but he hits the bar

How Jacquet impressed the crowd

Jacquet’s name was read out last when the teams were announced as Anfield gave him a special welcome and the young defender responded with a standout performance. The Frenchman certainly pressed his claims for a start against Newcastle next week.

The first cheers for Jacquet came within 30 seconds as a result of a couple of purposeful passes that indicated his willingness to add some drive to a Liverpool backline that was guilty of being a little bit too sluggish on the ball under Arne Slot last term.

And the crowd were chanting his name a quarter of an hour in when he produced a strong challenge right in front of the Kop before doing well to hold off his man in the follow-up tussle for possession. Jacquet looks serene but there is steel there as well.

It was not flawless. He missed a challenge just before the half-hour mark and needed Frimpong to save him with a covering challenge. There was a clumsy miskicked clearance soon after that he made up for with a crucial interception inside the area.

But the goal, tapping in Gakpo’s cross, capped off a fine 45 minutes before he was withdrawn at the break. Araujo has been brought in on loan but Jacquet is seen as the long-term solution at the back for Liverpool and this was a very encouraging start.

The statistics show Ibrahima Konate was quick but it could sometimes take a while for the legs to get going. Now 35, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk needs pace around him in that defence now. In Jacquet, he appears to have found his ideal new partner.

Iraola admits Liverpool ‘need to be better’

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola:

On the performance: “We needed this feeling of finishing with a clean sheet and winning the game. Still, the first half has been better than the second but at least we kept our organisation and our composure. We found a way to finish with a clean sheet. We needed this feeling before we started.”

“We are better than we were last week. I hope next week we are better than we were today. You can say the first half is still better than the second half, but today a lot of players played 90 minutes and they finished with no cramps.

“It’s an improvement but still, especially in the second half, we need to be better.

“We need every player, every time, every minute, every action and that’s the commitment. I’m very happy with the attitude of the players. They are training really well. I am asking them to do things that are a little bit different, especially without the ball and I think they are trying to get it.

“We are not perfect. We have things to improve but I’m very happy with their attitude, their willingness to be on the same page and we will get there.”

On Jeremy Jacquet: “Jeremy played really well, also Ronald played really well when he came in.

“Also, a very good performance of Jeremie Frimpong, also playing 90 minutes as a right-back helping us offensively but closing very well his side also. Some good performances at the back.”

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