The Hundred Eliminator, men’s competition, The Kia Oval
Manchester Super Giants 186-4 (100 balls): Walter 80 (46). Klaasen 63 (26)
Sunrisers Leeds 166-7 (100 balls): Rickelton 54* (34), Brook 49 (31); Tongue 4-26
Super Giants won by 20 runs
Scorecard
Paul Walter was the unlikely star as Manchester Super Giants beat Sunrisers Leeds by 20 runs in the Eliminator to cruise into the men’s Hundred final.
Walter’s 80 off just 46 balls set up Super Giants’ imposing total of 186-4 at The Oval, before England seamer Josh Tongue led the bowling unit with an impressive 4-26 in Sunrisers’ chase.
Having been put in to bat, Walter remained unflustered when opening partner Tim Seifert was dismissed from the second ball of the game, ensuring that Sunrisers’ momentum was short-lived as he and Jos Buttler added 57 for the second wicket.
Buttler made 33 from 20 before Walter combined with the destructive Heinrich Klaasen and the pair added 114 off just 52 balls, with Walter whacking eight sixes and Klaasen four.
South African Klaasen blitzed a brutal 63 off 26 before he fell to Nathan Ellis.
Sunrisers have boasted one of the most powerful top orders in the tournament but struggled under the pressure of a mammoth run chase and they finished 166-7.
The tournament’s leading run-scorer Mitch Marsh fell for 10 before captain Zak Crawley wasted a review when he was plumb lbw for six, which later proved costly as Harry Brook was given out lbw on 49 playing a reverse scoop – but replays showed the impact was outside the line of off stump.
Brook had shown glimpses of his brilliance in his 31-ball knock and was keeping Sunrisers’ hopes alive, but his dismissal left them needing 89 off 44 balls and the innings fell away.
Tongue removed both Marsh and Crawley before he combined with Sonny Baker to tear through the middle order, the latter finishing with 2-39, while Sunrisers opener Ryan Rickelton was left stranded on 54 not out.
Super Giants will face Trent Rockets in the final at Lord’s on Sunday.