Faf du Plessis etched his name in Major League Cricket (MLC) history with a scintillating century, powering the Texas Super Kings to a commanding victory over MI New York. In the match held on June 29, 2025, at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, du Plessis's explosive innings of 103* off 53 balls was instrumental in setting up a total of 223 runs for the Super Kings.
Du Plessis's remarkable knock was his third century in the MLC, making him the first batter to achieve this feat in the tournament's history. At 41 years old, the Super Kings' skipper continues to defy age, showcasing his exceptional talent and cementing his status as a dominant force in T20 cricket. This was also du Plessis's 8th T20 century, putting him on par with the likes of Rohit Sharma and Jos Buttler.
The Super Kings' innings got off to a shaky start when Smit Patel was dismissed early. However, du Plessis took charge, forming crucial partnerships with Saiteja Mukkamalla and Marcus Stoinis to steady the ship. Du Plessis then launched a brutal assault on the MI New York bowlers, with Donovan Ferreira providing excellent support. Ferreira's blistering innings of 53 off 20 deliveries helped the Super Kings reach a formidable total.
MI New York's chase was always going to be a tall order, and despite a valiant effort from Kieron Pollard, who scored 70 off 39 balls, they fell short of the target. Akeal Hosein starred with the ball for the Texas Super Kings, taking three wickets and earning the 'Player of the Match' award.
The victory was particularly sweet for the Texas Super Kings as it secured their place in the MLC playoffs for the third consecutive time. The Super Kings have historically dominated MI New York, winning all their encounters in the MLC. This win further solidified their dominance and highlighted the team's cohesiveness.
The match wasn't without its moments of brilliance beyond du Plessis's batting heroics. Earlier in the tournament, du Plessis had also grabbed attention for a stunning one-handed catch against MI New York.
MI New York, on the other hand, is struggling in the current MLC season. With only one win in six games, they are near the bottom of the table and face the risk of elimination. After a recent loss where they failed to defend a score of 237, captain Nicholas Pooran expressed his frustration with the team's bowling performance.
The Texas Super Kings vs MI New York match was the 21st of the MLC 2025 season. The Super Kings are currently in a strong position to make a deep run in the playoffs, thanks to their strong team and the leadership of Faf du Plessis.
