JOHANNESBURG: Skipper Faf du Plessis smashed the maiden hundred of South Africa’s newly launched T20 league – SA20 – to steer Joburg Super Kings to a convincing eight-wicket win over Durban Super Giants on Tuesday.
The former South African skipper played an astounding knock of unbeaten 113 from 58 to sail his side to the finishing line after Super Giants posted a respectable 179-run target.
Coming out to bat with Reeza Hendrick, Du Plessis stitched a brilliant opening stand of 157 that put his side in command during the run chase. While Hendrick made a cautious 45 off 46, captain Faf was the main aggressor as he smacked eight fours and as many sixes to show his batting prowess at the ripe age of 38.
Hendrick threw his wicket in the 17th over off Reece Topley’s bowling before Wiaan Mulder dismissed Donovan Ferreira cheaply to deny Super Kings a 10-wicket victory.
Earlier, Heinrich Klaasen led the batting charge with a blistering 65 from 48 balls to help his Super Giant reach a competitive total of 178/6 after they were put into bat.
A late cameo by West Indies’ Jason Holder, 28 from 12 balls, and useful contributions from Kyle Mayers (28 off 15) and Matthew Breetzke (28 off 24) also soothed Super Giants despite Maheesh Theekshana and Gerald Coetzee’s intermittent jolts.
Theekshana bagged three wickets in his four overs, including two back-to-back wickets in the fifth over when he dismissed Mayer and Mulder in three balls.
Coetzee, on the other hand, had three in his three overs.
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