Faf du Plessis lights up the Bullring to record historic SA20 century

Faf du Plessis lights up the Bullring to record historic SA20 century

Faf du Plessis hit the first ever century in SA20 as the Joburg Super Kings beat the Durban Super Giants by eight wickets at Wanderers on Tuesday.

It was a scintillating innings by the home captain that lasted only 58 balls, but yielded 113 electrifying runs – including eight fours and eight sixes.

The 38-year-old was undoubtedly the star of the Bullring as he tore into Durban's Super Kings bowling attack to chase 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, with the Proteas opener compiling 45 off 46 balls for what was very much a supporting act.

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, putting them back in the running for a semi-final berth.

Unfortunately for the Super Giants their chances of qualifying for the playoffs are now slim as they remain rooted to 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 Lankan 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.