Manchester Super Giants
Sanjiv Goenka’s Manchester Super Giants have finally ended their long wait for a major franchise cricket title.
The Manchester-based side defeated Trent Rockets by five wickets in the men’s Hundred final at Lord’s on Sunday to win their maiden title in the competition. Trent Rockets posted 158 for eight after being asked to bat first. Manchester Super Giants then chased down the target, finishing on 162 for five.
The victory is particularly significant because the franchise had previously reached the Hundred final twice under its former identity, Manchester Originals. The team finished runners-up in both 2022 and 2023.
This time, however, there was no disappointment.
New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert was the star of the Manchester Super Giants chase.
The right-hander smashed 72 from just 38 balls and took the attack apart with seven sixes. He reached his half-century in only 23 balls and gave Manchester a commanding start in the chase.
His aggressive approach immediately shifted the momentum towards the Super Giants.
Captain Jos Buttler also played an important role during the chase. However, Seifert’s explosive innings remained the defining contribution of the final. Manchester Super Giants appeared to be cruising towards victory for much of the chase.
But Seifert’s dismissal brought Trent Rockets back into the contest. With 23 runs still required and only 22 balls remaining, Manchester suddenly found themselves under pressure.
Mohammad Amir then struck again, dismissing important batters and giving Trent Rockets hope of producing a dramatic comeback.
The final over produced the biggest drama of the match. Manchester Super Giants needed only three runs from the final over. Liam Dawson faced the first two deliveries but could not score.
The pressure was suddenly enormous. Then came the decisive moment. Dawson smashed the third delivery over deep midwicket for a six, ending the contest in emphatic fashion.
The Manchester Super Giants players immediately celebrated in front of a packed Lord’s crowd.
For Trent Rockets, it was another disappointing men’s final after reaching the championship match for the second consecutive year. Their batting effort had produced a competitive total.
Aneurin Donald provided an important late contribution with 38 from 19 balls, while Lewis Gregory scored 32 from 16.
Mitchell Santner remained unbeaten on 20 and helped Trent Rockets finish strongly.
Manchester’s bowling attack, meanwhile, was led by Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad.
The left-arm wrist-spinner took three wickets for 33 runs and played an important role in preventing Trent Rockets from posting a bigger total.
The victory is also a major moment in Sanjiv Goenka’s franchise sports journey.
Goenka’s involvement in franchise cricket began with the Pune IPL team in 2016. His New Rising consortium secured the Pune franchise for the 2016 and 2017 IPL seasons.
The team, known as Rising Pune Supergiant, reached the IPL final in 2017 but lost to Mumbai Indians by one run.
Goenka later returned to the IPL with Lucknow Super Giants. His sports portfolio also expanded to South Africa’s SA20, where Durban’s Super Giants represent another major RPSG investment.
His group is also involved in football, including Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
The Manchester franchise represents another major international expansion of the RPSG sports portfolio.
The Hundred side was previously known as Manchester Originals. As part of the competition’s new ownership structure and rebranding, it became Manchester Super Giants for the 2026 season.
The new name immediately delivered the result Goenka had been waiting for.
Winning The Hundred title gives the Super Giants their first championship in the competition and ends the disappointment of their two previous final appearances.
It is also a significant achievement for captain Jos Buttler and coach Justin Langer, who guided the side through a competitive campaign.
The final victory was built around Seifert’s explosive batting, Noor Ahmad’s disciplined bowling and Dawson’s composure under pressure.
For Goenka, however, the sight of his team lifting the Hundred trophy at Lord’s carries a deeper significance.
After years of investment across different franchise competitions, one of India’s prominent sports investors finally has another major title to celebrate.
Manchester Super Giants are now Hundred champions.
And their first title has arrived in dramatic fashion, at the home of English cricket, with a last-over six deciding the final.
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