Faf du Plessis hits first century of inaugural SA20 as Durban's Super Giants feel the heat
- Planet Sport writer
- 24 January 2023
Faf du Plessis hit the first ever century in SA20 as the Joburg Super Kings beat Durban's Super Giants by eight wickets at the Wanderers on Tuesday.
It was a scintillating innings by the home captain that lasted only 58 balls, but yielded 113 electrifying runs. It included eight boundaries and eight sixes.
The 38-year-old Du Plessis was the star of the Bullring as he tore into Durban's Super Giants' bowling attack as they chased down a target of 179.
Du Plessis had Reeza Hendricks as company for the majority of the innings with the opening pair putting on 157 for the first wicket. Hendricks was very much a supporting act though with the Proteas opener compiling 45 off 46 balls.
The partnership was the perfect platform for the Super Kings to chase down the Super Giants' 178/6 with Du Plessis striking the winning runs with five balls remaining.
The eight-wicket victory reignited the Super Kings' SA20 campaign as they leapfrogged MI Cape Town into fourth place.
Unfortunately for the Super Giants their chances of qualifying for the playoffs are now slim as they remain at the foot of the table.
Quinton de Kock's team had given themselves hope through Heinrich Klaasen's 65 off 48 balls and a pair of 28's from West Indian duo Kyle Mayers and Jason Holder at the top and bottom end of the innings.
Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana (3/30) and young South African paceman Gerald Coetzee (3/21) ensured the Super Giants did not run away entirely.
However, the thousands that streamed into the Wanderers once again would remember this special evening as the night Du Plessis struck the first century of the SA20.
