Report

Du Plessis 113* trumps Seifert 104 as TSK begin season with big win

Zayn Kapoor · · 2 min read
403553.6

Du Plessis 113* trumps Seifert 104 as TSK begin season with big win

Texas Super Kings began their MLC 2026 season with a resounding six-wicket win over Seattle Orcas, thanks to a phenomenal performance from Faf du Plessis.

Du Plessis, at 41 years and 340 days, became the oldest T20 centurion, breaking Paul Collingwood’s record set in 2017. He reached his century in just 45 balls and finished unbeaten on 113 off 52 balls, as TSK chased down 221 with nine balls remaining.

Key Partnerships

The chase was almost entirely driven by South Africans: Rilee Rossouw scored a 21-ball 49 in a tone-setting 95-run second-wicket partnership with du Plessis, which consumed just 37 balls, while Wiaan Mulder hurried TSK towards the finish with an unbeaten 15-ball 31.

The tempo of TSK’s chase cast a harsh spotlight on the comparatively tame pace of Orcas’ innings. Tim Seifert scored his sixth T20 hundred, but took 66 balls to score his 104, and his opening partner Shayan Jahangir made 78 off 47 balls, with the pair putting on 191 in 17.2 overs after Orcas were put in.

Bowling Effort

Another South African was instrumental in TSK’s bowling effort, with left-arm quick Nandre Burger conceding just 27 in his four overs, including a 19th over that went for just eight.

The win marked a strong start to the season for Texas Super Kings, and they will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches.

Zayn Kapoor

Zayn Kapoor is a senior cricket correspondent for The Indian Express, acclaimed for his incisive coverage of the sport’s most electric rivalry: India versus Pakistan. An alumnus of Hindu College, University of Delhi, he began his career on the domestic circuit before quickly establishing himself as a sharp analyst and a gifted storyteller. Zayn’s work is defined by his ability to bridge two cricketing cultures; his features often explore the shared histories, mutual admiration, and occasional tensions that make India‑Pakistan contests unrivalled. He has a deep technical grasp of fast bowling and has interviewed some of the greatest pacers from both sides of the border. A recipient of the Sardar Hazara Singh Award and a regular face on television panels, Zayn brings nuance, empathy, and a historian’s eye to every piece he writes. He is also a passionate advocate for preserving cricket’s oral histories and grassroots traditions.