Faf du Plessis became the oldest men’s T20 centurion on his way to powering Texas Super Kings (TSK) to a domineering six-wicket win over Seattle Orcas in the MLC 2026 season-opener in Dallas.

Du Plessis, at 41 years and 340 days, broke Paul Collingwood’s record (41 years and 65 days) set in 2017. He got to his century in just 45 balls, and finished unbeaten on 113 off 52 balls, as TSK chased down 221 with nine balls remaining. 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.

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.