Faf du Plessis continued his blazing form in the inaugural European T20 Premier League match and reminded everyone why he remains one of the top T20 batsmen of this generation. Against the Amsterdam Flames
he smashed an unbeaten 83 off 55 balls and it was a knock of full authority. He reached his fifty and then kept the chase as he helped his team chase down the target with 11 balls to spare. That knock showed why he has had a long and great career. Even at the age of 42, Faf Du Plessis continues to perform against the best bowlers in the world.
Du Plessis has played 69 Tests, 143 ODIs and 50 T20Is for South Africa scoring more than 11,000 international runs. He captained the Proteas across formats and earned a reputation as one of the best fielders of his era. After retiring from international cricket he continues to do well in franchise leagues around the world, winning titles and scoring up runs in the IPL, MLC and Caribbean Premier League. At 42 he is still producing match-winning scores, proving that experience and clear decision-making can outweigh raw youth. His latest fifty-plus knock for Rotterdam Dockers was another one which was dominant.
42 year old Faf Du Plessis smashed a fifty in the ETPL. pic.twitter.com/vRKn7lprCm
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 26, 2026
Rotterdam Dockers start ETPL with a win
The opening match of the European T20 Premier League was a thriller. Amsterdam Flames scored 157 for 8 in their 20 overs, with Bas de Leede top-scoring with 75. Rotterdam Dockers, led by Faf du Plessis, were never in serious trouble while chasing. Du Plessis anchored the innings with an unbeaten 83, mixing careful anchoring with aggression. David Wiese provided good support at the other end. The required rate stayed under control throughout, and the Dockers reached the target in the 19th over with five wickets in hand.
Kyle Klein picked up three wickets for the Flames but could not stop the chase. Du Plessis was named Player of the Match for his all-round contribution which included a half century and also two catches. Rotterdam Dockers took the two points from their first ever match and are placed top of the points table, while Amsterdam Flames will look to bounce back quickly in their next match. The opening match of the ETPL has proved to be a thriller.
