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Manchester Super Giants have booked their place in the final of The Hundred Men’s 2026 after producing a sensational performance against SunRisers Leeds in the Eliminator. The Super Giants defeated the Leeds-based outfit by 20 runs at The Oval, setting up a mouth-watering summit clash against Trent Rockets at Lord’s on Sunday, August 16.
The Manchester franchise, formerly known as Manchester Originals, have enjoyed a significant turnaround in their fortunes this season. Their squad boasts a formidable mix of international stars and talented English players, with Jos Buttler, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, Noor Ahmad and Josh Tongue among their key performers.
After the convincing Eliminator victory, head coach and captaincy group are unlikely to make wholesale changes for the final. Manchester could therefore retain most of the combination that helped them overcome SunRisers Leeds.
Here is the predicted Playing XI of Manchester Super Giants for the Hundred Men’s 2026 Final.
Tim Seifert is expected to continue opening the innings. The New Zealand batter has provided Manchester with an aggressive option at the top and has been one of the team’s consistent contributors during the competition. His ability to attack from the outset makes him an important component of the batting line-up.
Aiden Markram should continue to lead the side and occupy a prominent position in the batting order. His experience in franchise cricket and ability to contribute with both bat and ball give Manchester valuable balance. Markram’s calm leadership will also be crucial in a high-pressure final against Trent Rockets.
Jos Buttler remains the biggest name in Manchester’s batting unit. The England white-ball star has already produced several important contributions this season and will be desperate to deliver on the biggest stage.
Buttler scored 33 in the Eliminator against SunRisers Leeds and has the experience to handle the pressure of a final. His ability to dismantle attacks during the powerplay could be decisive at Lord’s.
Heinrich Klaasen produced one of the standout knocks of the Eliminator, smashing 63 off just 26 balls. His innings provided Manchester with the acceleration they needed after a solid start.
The South African’s ability to dominate spin makes him particularly dangerous in the middle overs. If Klaasen gets set, Trent Rockets’ bowlers could face a difficult challenge.
Leus du Plooy is likely to retain his place in the middle order. The left-hander provides another aggressive batting option and can adapt to different match situations. His ability to rotate the strike before launching an attack gives Manchester flexibility.
Tom Moores could continue as the second wicketkeeping option and a lower-middle-order batter. His ability to score quickly makes him useful in the closing stages of an innings, while his experience behind the stumps provides additional depth.
Liam Dawson’s all-round ability could prove extremely valuable in the final. The experienced left-arm spinner can bowl important spells while also contributing useful runs down the order.
His presence allows Manchester to maintain a balanced XI without sacrificing batting depth.
Gus Atkinson should retain his place as one of Manchester’s principal pace options. The England fast bowler offers genuine wicket-taking ability and can operate effectively in the powerplay as well as the death phase.
His athleticism in the field is another asset for the Super Giants.
Josh Tongue enters the final in outstanding form. He was the architect of Manchester’s Eliminator victory, claiming four wickets and playing a major role in restricting SunRisers Leeds to 166. He dismissed Mitchell Marsh, Zak Crawley and Dan Lawrence among others.
With 34 wickets listed for the Super Giants this season, Tongue has emerged as one of the tournament’s most influential bowlers.
Noor Ahmad is expected to spearhead Manchester’s spin attack. The Afghanistan left-arm wrist-spinner has the ability to trouble batters with his variations and could be especially dangerous if the Lord’s surface offers assistance.
His matchup against Trent Rockets’ aggressive middle order could be one of the key battles of the final.
Sonny Baker should complete the bowling attack. The young English pacer has already shown his ability to deliver under pressure and played an important role in the Eliminator by dismissing Harry Brook.
His combination with Tongue and Atkinson gives Manchester a well-rounded pace attack.
Tim Seifert (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Jos Buttler, Heinrich Klaasen, Leus du Plooy, Tom Moores, Liam Dawson, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Noor Ahmad, Sonny Baker
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