By Dwayne Ferreira.
Faf du Plessis answered Tim Seifert’s century with an unbeaten 113 as Texas Super Kings completed a remarkable 221-run chase in Dallas.
Faf du Plessis launched the 2026 Major League Cricket season with an unbeaten 113 as Texas Super Kings chased down Seattle Orcas’ imposing 220 for two to win a spectacular opening match by six wickets at Grand Prairie Stadium. Texas reached 221 for four in only 18.3 overs, completing the pursuit with nine balls remaining after Seattle had appeared to take control through Tim Seifert’s century and a 191-run opening partnership.
Texas captain du Plessis won the toss and chose to bowl, but the decision initially appeared costly as Seifert and Shayan Jahangir settled quickly. Seattle reached 57 without loss during the powerplay and maintained their momentum without offering Texas a breakthrough during the first 17 overs.
Seifert supplied the greater control early in the partnership before increasing his tempo, while Jahangir repeatedly cleared the boundary as Texas struggled to separate them. Their stand eventually reached 191, placing Seattle in position for a total well beyond 200.
Jahangir was the first to depart, caught by Saiteja Mukkamalla off Amshi de Silva for 78 from 47 balls. His innings contained three fours and seven sixes. Seifert followed in the 20th over after reaching 104 from 66 deliveries, striking eight fours and six sixes before Adam Milne held a return catch.
Marcus Stoinis ensured Seattle did not lose momentum after the two dismissals. The captain struck two sixes in an unbeaten 13 from three balls, while Shimron Hetmyer finished on eight not out. Seattle closed on 220 for two, with Milne and Amshi claiming the only wickets. Nandre Burger returned the most economical figures for Texas, conceding 27 runs from four overs.
Texas suffered an immediate setback when Mukkamalla was dismissed for a first-ball duck, but du Plessis and Rilee Rossouw responded with an extraordinary counterattack. Instead of allowing Seattle to build pressure, the pair attacked throughout the fielding restrictions and carried Texas to 89 for one from six overs.
Rossouw struck seven fours and two sixes in a 21-ball 49. He and du Plessis added 95 from only 37 deliveries before Stoinis ended the partnership, but the required rate had already been reduced to manageable levels.
Du Plessis continued to dominate as Milind Kumar and Shubham Ranjane departed around him. His clean striking prevented Seattle from exploiting those wickets, and his century transformed a daunting chase into one Texas increasingly controlled.
The Texas captain finished with nine fours and seven sixes in his 52-ball innings. Wiaan Mulder supplied the decisive late support, striking three sixes in an unbeaten 31 from 15 balls. Their unbroken fifth-wicket partnership added 56 from 26 deliveries and took Texas across the line before the final two overs became necessary.
Seattle used six bowlers, but none could sustain control against the home side’s aggression. Jasdeep Singh, Cameron Gannon, Ottneil Baartman and Stoinis took one wicket each, although Texas maintained a scoring rate of almost 12 runs per over throughout the chase.
Du Plessis was named Player of the Match after eclipsing Seifert’s hundred and delivering the defining performance of the opening fixture. Texas began their campaign with two points and considerable batting confidence, while Seattle were left to recover quickly before facing Washington Freedom the following evening.
The result established an immediate theme for the Dallas leg, where short boundaries, a fast outfield and evening conditions heavily favoured the chasing side. Seattle had lost after producing only two wickets and a 220-run total, illustrating how little margin the competition’s attacks were likely to receive.
MATCH SUMMARY
SEATTLE ORCAS – 220/2, 20 overs
Tim Seifert 104, Shayan Jahangir 78, Marcus Stoinis 13 not out
Adam Milne 1/41, Amshi de Silva 1/35, Nandre Burger 0/27
TEXAS SUPER KINGS – 221/4, 18.3 overs
Faf du Plessis 113 not out, Rilee Rossouw 49, Wiaan Mulder 31 not out
Jasdeep Singh 1/31, Marcus Stoinis 1/15, Ottneil Baartman 1/40
Result: Texas Super Kings won by six wickets with nine balls remaining.
Player of the Match: Faf du Plessis.
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