Faf du Plessis has etched his name in cricket history by becoming the oldest player to score a century in T20 cricket. The veteran South African achieved this remarkable feat during the opening match of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 season, playing for the Texas Super Kings against the Seattle Orcas. His unbeaten 113 off 52 balls powered the Chennai Super Kings-affiliated franchise to a six-wicket victory.
Seattle Orcas Set a Formidable Target
After winning the toss, Texas Super Kings elected to field first. The decision initially seemed to backfire as the Seattle Orcas amassed a daunting total of 220 runs. Tim Seifert led the charge with a scintillating 104 off 66 deliveries, while Shayan Jahangir contributed 78 from 47 balls. The pair stitched together a record-breaking 191-run opening partnership, the highest ever in the USA-based franchise league, propelling Seattle to a commanding position.
Du Plessis Anchors the Chase
Texas Super Kings suffered an early setback in their chase when Saiteja Mukkamalla was dismissed for a golden duck by Jasdeep Singh. However, du Plessis stood firm at the crease and steadied the innings alongside Rilee Rossouw. The pair put together a crucial 95-run partnership for the second wicket, keeping Texas firmly in contention. The partnership ended when Rossouw fell to Marcus Stoinis, but du Plessis continued to anchor the chase from his end.
Middle-Order Contributions
Texas further endured a mini-collapse, with Milind Kumar and Shubham Ranjane departing for 13 and 10, respectively. Despite the frequent fall of wickets, du Plessis maintained the momentum and found valuable support from Wiaan Mulder's cameo, who smashed 31 runs from just 15 balls. Their efforts ensured the Texas Super Kings successfully chased down the target and opened their campaign with a memorable victory.
Historic Milestone
In the process, du Plessis became the oldest player ever to score a T20 century, reaching the landmark at 41 years and 340 days of age. His innings was made even more impressive by a remarkable strike rate of 217, underlining his outstanding class in the shortest format. The previous record was held by Paul Collingwood, who scored a century at 41 years and 65 days in 2017.
Oldest Players to Score T20 Centuries
- Faf du Plessis (Texas Super Kings) - 113* off 52 balls, 9 fours, 7 sixes, strike rate 217.30, age 41y 340d, vs Seattle Orcas, Dallas, 18 Jun 2026
- Paul Collingwood (Durham) - 108* off 60 balls, 10 fours, 6 sixes, strike rate 180.00, age 41y 65d, vs Worcestershire, Worcester, 30 Jul 2017
- Graeme Hick (Worcestershire) - 110 off 49 balls, 10 fours, 8 sixes, strike rate 224.48, age 41y 37d, vs Northamptonshire, Kidderminster, 29 Jun 2007
- Faf du Plessis (Texas Super Kings) - 103* off 53 balls, 5 fours, 9 sixes, strike rate 194.33, age 40y 351d, vs MI New York, Dallas, 29 Jun 2025
- Faf du Plessis (Texas Super Kings) - 100 off 51 balls, 6 fours, 7 sixes, strike rate 196.07, age 40y 342d, vs San Francisco Unicorns, Dallas, 20 Jun 2025
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