Veteran South African batter Faf du Plessis turned back the clock with a sensational unbeaten century as the Texas Super Kings (TSK) kicked off their Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 campaign with a thrilling six-wicket victory over the Seattle Orcas at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.Chasing a daunting target of 221, TSK rode on a masterclass from their captain, who smashed an unbeaten 113 off just 52 deliveries to guide his side home with nine balls to spare. The innings was a reminder of du Plessis’ enduring class and power, as the 41-year-old dismantled the Orcas bowling attack with seven fours and seven sixes.
Faf became oldest to score century
The knock was historic in more ways than one. At 41 years and 340 days, du Plessis became the oldest player to score a T20 century, surpassing the previous record held by former England all-rounder Paul Collingwood. He reached the milestone in just 45 balls and also extended his record as the leading centurion in MLC history with his fourth hundred in the competition.
Tim Seifert set the tone for Orcas
Earlier, Seattle Orcas looked set for victory after opener Tim Seifert produced a magnificent innings of 104 off 66 balls, registering his maiden MLC century. He was brilliantly supported by Shayan Jahangir, who struck 78 from 47 deliveries. The duo added a tournament-record 191 runs for the opening wicket, powering Seattle to a formidable 220/2 in their 20 overs.However, the massive total proved insufficient against a rampant Texas batting lineup. After the early loss of Saiteja Mukkamalla in the opening over, du Plessis launched a stunning counterattack. Alongside fellow South African Rilee Rossouw, who blasted 49 off just 21 balls, he added 95 runs to put TSK firmly ahead of the required rate.Texas raced to 89/1 inside the powerplay and never allowed the pressure of the chase to build. Wiaan Mulder then provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 31 off 15 balls, ensuring TSK crossed the finish line at 221/4 in 18.3 overs.
Which performance impressed you more in the match?
Brief Scores:
Seattle Orcas 220/2 (20 overs) – Tim Seifert 104 (66), Shayan Jahangir 78 (47)Texas Super Kings 221/4 (18.3 overs) – Faf du Plessis 113* (52), Rilee Rossouw 49 (21), Wiaan Mulder 31* (15)Result: Texas Super Kings won by 6 wickets.
