Seifert blasts Manchester Super Giants to maiden Hundred title
Noor Ahmad stars with three wickets before Dawson closes out tense finale with match-winning six
Noor Ahmad stars with three wickets before Dawson closes out tense finale with match-winning six
Scorer: Chetan Kumar | Commentator: Andrew Miller
And with that, Manchester Super Giants lift the Hundred trophy! It's their first victory after losing in two finals, and it's been a clinical finish to their campaign, albeit there were a few late nerves in that chase! Anyhow, the celebrations will go on long. From Miller, Chetan and the team, good night!
Time for the presentations. Ash Gardner and Billings lift the Hundred Helix for Trent Rockets. And the tournament's MVP is also the Meerkat Match Hero, Tim Seifert!
"I think from the get-go, we're a well-balanced side, and I think a lot of people chipped in when they needed to as well. I think you look at Tall Paul not playing the start of the tournament and coming in doing what he did. It just shows the depth that we have in our squad. Obviously my first time playing this tournament, and it's been a great time, a good month, that's for sure. [On the finale] I think Daws had it always under control!"
Jos Buttler: "Excitement and euphoria, and a little bit of relief! A fantastic effort from everyone. I think Tim mentioned to win five games in a row to be in this position to lift the trophy. I think we deserve it. I think we've had some brilliant performances from every one of the boys at the top of the order since Aiden [Markram] had to leave. They've been outstanding, but it's been the wicket-taking ability of the team as well. Very well marshalled off the field by a very calm coaching staff as well. We've got a nice blend there with Tom Moody, who's done this a few times, and Justin Langer. All the guys have been been brilliant. So I'm really proud of absolutely everyone involved."
8.57pm Wow... and breathe. Sam Billings is denied his fourth title in a row, but his former Oval Invincibles sidekick Tom Moody lands that accolade instead. It was MSG's all the way, until with a run-a-ball needed in the final 25 balls, they tensed up sufficiently to let Trent Rockets take it deep. The key wicket was that of Tim Seifert after an exceptional 72, but Leus du Plooy kept his head before the man for the clutch moment, Liam Dawson, closed it out with two balls left unused. Not a bad match for a 27,416 crowd.
Gary Jenkins: "I take it back, you're a genius Billings!!" Almost! I was surprised he didn't go to Santner, but he so nearly pulled it out of the fire... Sanderson did close out the Blast final last month, so he's got previous at the clutch...
Sonny Baker: "Always backed the boys to get over the line in that situation. But yeah, we cut that close!"
Tom Moody, the four-in-four man: "It's a great achievement. It's the first one for Manchester and in my position, it's a privilege to be involved. Obviously, the players are the ones that do all the hard work, and they've been consistent pretty much throughout the tournament. They deserve the trophy at the end."
Moody on Seifert: "The last couple of years, he's really been peaking as a player. He had a great World Cup. We knew that he was a dynamic player, and particularly on our home ground, it was important to have a player that could play both strongly off the front and the back foot, and he's certainly got that dynamic game. And once he gets on a roll, he's so hard to bowl to."
Wow, Billings isn't going to Santner... huge call to stick with Sanderson!
MG Bracewell lbw b Mohammad Amir 0 (2m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
Can Amir dot up these last two balls? Two of Santner's overs went for two runs... hope is a cruel mistress for Rockets...
H Klaasen c Donald b Mohammad Amir 11 (12m 9b 1x4 0x6) SR: 122.22
The quality of the cricket may be better than ever, but the same old arguments continue to be fought
Noor Ahmad stars with three wickets before Dawson closes out tense finale with match-winning six