Faf du Plessis matches remarkable MS Dhoni feat after South Africa's win over Sri Lanka

South Africa defeated Sri Lanka by an innings and 45 runs at Centurion Park to take a 1-0 lead in the ongoing two-match series. Faf du Plessis, who relieved himself of captaincy duties not long ago, was adjudged as Player of the Match for his heroic 199-run knock against the visitors. The innings also turned out to be his magnum opus Test performance even though he fell short of his maiden double ton by just one run. South Africa vs Sri Lanka 2020: South Africa maul visitors in solid home outing 🛑 RESULT | SOUTH AFRICA WINS BY AN INNINGS AND 45 RUNS A solid all-round performance with both bat and ball sees us start the #BetwayTest with a victory#SAvSL #BetwayTest #SeeUsOnThePitch pic.twitter.com/QX2eGDQRVd — Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) December 29, 2020 Also Read | Faf Du Plessis 199 against Sri Lankan Bowling Attack 'not His Best Innings'? South Africa vs Sri Lanka 2020: Faf du Plessis joins MS Dhoni as South Africa achieve rare record Prior to the opening day of the recently-concluded Test, Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne won the toss and opted to bat first. At stumps on Day 1, the touring party reached 340-6 on the back of solid half-centuries from Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva and Dasun Shanaka. Despite a compact foundation laid by the Sri Lankan batsmen on Day 1, they ended up losing the Test by an innings, thus marking only the second such occasion in Test history. The only other instance of a team scoring more on an opening day and losing by an innings later occurred way back in 2009. Interestingly, the match in contention also involved Sri Lanka when they scored 366-8 on Day 1 against India at the Brabourne Stadium. In the match, the MS Dhoni-led Indian side defeated their continental neighbours by an innings and 24 runs. Also Read | IPL 2021 To Be Held In India Only After BCCI Releases Schedule For Home Series Vs England? While Faf du Plessis scored 199 in South Africa’s recent series-leading win over Sri Lanka, former Indian cricketers Virender Sehwag and MS Dhoni scored blazing tons in India’s innings win back in 2009. The aforementioned three batsmen are now lone members of an elite club to score centuries in their side’s innings win over their opponents after conceding 340 or more runs on the opening day of a Test. Remarkably, two of the above three cricketers are long-time teammates in the Indian Premier League (IPL). MS Dhoni, who has been the captain of the Chennai franchise in India’s cash-rich T20 tournament, has been teammates with Faf du Plessis since the 2011 edition of the competition. Moreover, the two former captains of their respective national sides are all set to reprise their roles for the franchise in the upcoming IPL 2021 season. Also Read | Virat Kohli & Sachin Tendulkar Lead Wishes As India Register Famous Win Against Australia Faf du Plessis 199 vs Sri Lanka: Cricketer’s innings headlines South Africa’s win The Boxing Day Test has come and gone but we sure loved it!! 💚 How excited are you for the #Proteas second match of the @betway_sa Test against Sri Lanka? #SAvSL #BetwayTest #SeeUsOnThePitch pic.twitter.com/EW8yzBz6fE — Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) December 30, 2020 Also Read | Ricky Ponting Backs Steve Smith To Perform In Next Test, Feels Joe Burns Might Be Forced Out Image source: CSA and BCCI Twitter

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Faf du Plessis matches remarkable MS Dhoni feat after South Africa's win over Sri Lanka

Faf du Plessis joins the likes of MS Dhoni and Virender Sehwag to achieve a rare Test record after South Africa defeated Sri Lanka by an innings and 45 runs.

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