Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 witnessed another unforgettable moment on Tuesday as veteran South African batter Faf du Plessis rolled back the years with a breathtaking catch during the clash between Texas Super Kings (TSK) and San Francisco Unicorns (SFU) at the Oakland Coliseum in California. While the contest itself proved crucial for Texas Super Kings as they ended a brief losing streak, it was Du Plessis’ remarkable athleticism at the age of 41 that stole the spotlight.
Widely regarded as one of the finest fielders of his generation, Du Plessis showcased that age is merely a number with a gravity-defying effort that left teammates, opponents and spectators in complete disbelief. The dismissal came at a pivotal stage of the chase and helped Texas tighten their grip on the contest.
Faf du Plessis takes a spectacular one-handed catch to remove Lhuan-dre Pretorius
The stunning moment unfolded on the very first ball of the fifth over of San Francisco Unicorns’ innings. Left-arm seamer Amshi de Silva delivered a full ball outside off stump, inviting Lhuan-dre Pretorius to go after it. The South African youngster attempted to drive the delivery but failed to keep it along the ground, sending the ball aerially towards mid-off.
Stationed inside the circle, Du Plessis reacted instantly. Diving full length to his right, the Texas skipper stretched out his right hand and somehow managed to pluck the ball cleanly out of thin air. The catch appeared almost impossible as the ball seemed destined to evade the fielder, but Du Plessis held on brilliantly before crashing onto the turf.
As soon as he completed the catch, the former South Africa captain sprang to his feet and celebrated with a smile, while a stunned Pretorius stood momentarily in disbelief. The batter even appeared to contemplate a review before eventually accepting that he had been dismissed by one of the catches of the tournament. The incredible effort quickly went viral on social media, with fans praising Du Plessis for producing such a moment of brilliance despite being in the latter stages of his playing career.
Here’s the video:
42 YEAR OLD FAF DU PLESSIS TAKES AN ABSOLUTE STUNNER. 🥶pic.twitter.com/x5iZ5rwPxo
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 25, 2026
Texas Super Kings register crucial win over San Francisco Unicorns
While Du Plessis’ catch became the talking point of the match, Texas Super Kings also delivered a strong all-round performance to secure a valuable 22-run victory. Batting first, TSK posted 161/8 in their allotted 20 overs. Du Plessis provided an aggressive start with 40 off 24 deliveries, while Donovan Ferreira played a crucial late innings of 45 from just 28 balls, including four sixes. Saiteja Mukkamalla also contributed with a handy 36 as Texas recovered well after a middle-order collapse. For the Unicorns, Brody Couch and Hassan Khan claimed two wickets apiece.
In reply, San Francisco Unicorns never managed to build meaningful partnerships. Finn Allen departed early before Pretorius fell victim to Du Plessis’ stunning catch. De Silva then ripped through the top order, finishing with excellent figures of 4/28, while Abhimanyu Lamba chipped in with two wickets. Matt Short top-scored with 28 runs, but regular wickets prevented the Unicorns from gaining any momentum. Eventually, they were bowled out for 139, handing Texas Super Kings a comfortable victory.
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