In a remarkable display that defies age constraints, the 39-year-old captain of Joburg Super Kings (JSK), Faf du Plessis, showcased his enduring cricketing prowess. This awe-inspiring performance took centre stage during JSK’s clash against MI Cape Town in the SA20 League 2024, held at Johannesburg’s iconic Wanderers Stadium on January 13.
Faf du Plessis, with the agility that belies his age, executed a phenomenal catch that dismissed the formidable MI Cape Town batsman, Dewald Brevis, casting him out of the game. The MI Cape Town innings commenced with a roaring start, spearheaded by Rassie van der Dussen, who brilliantly secured a century while opening the batting.
As the match progressed, the responsibility to maintain the aggressive momentum shifted to Brevis, who entered the fray at the 16th over’s number 3 position. Conscious of the team’s deep batting roster, Brevis adopted an attacking stance against the Joburg Super Kings’ formidable bowlers.
His strategy became evident when he sought to dominate by lofting the ball towards the mid-off region. Yet, this ambition met its end on the fourth delivery of Lizaad Williams’ 17th over.
FAF DU PLESSIS…. YOU ABSOLUTE FREAK…!!!! đŸ¤¯pic.twitter.com/ASYv4Qjb8S
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 13, 2024
While Brevis managed to navigate past mid-off, his fate was sealed by an extraordinary catch executed by Faf du Plessis, adding another feather to his illustrious cap. This pivotal catch led to Brevis’s premature exit after contributing a brief five runs off five deliveries. Opting to field first after winning the toss, JSK’s bowlers grappled with the challenge posed by MI Cape Town’s robust opening duo.
Van der Dussen’s scintillating innings, accumulating 104 runs from a mere 50 balls, established a monumental 200-run opening partnership, setting a new record in SA20 history. Meanwhile, Ryan Rickelton, van der Dussen’s opening counterpart, narrowly missed out on a century, falling just a couple of runs short due to an impressive retaliation from JSK’s Nandre Burger in the concluding over.
Despite facing initial setbacks, Joburg Super Kings showcased resilience, staging a commendable bowling resurgence in the concluding five overs, limiting MI Cape Town to a score of 243-5 within the allocated 20 overs following a rain-induced delay.
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