Unique achievement for Badgers captain Du Plessis

The captain of the Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers, Jean du Plessis, wrote his name in the record books of South African cricket the past weekend.

The 24-year-old Du Plessis, who matriculated at Glenwood House in George, became only the third player in the history of South African first-class cricket to hit a double century and a century in the same match.

Du Plessis reached a double century on day two of this weekend’s 4-Day Division 2 Domestic fixture against the Eastern Cape Iinayathi at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn.

Du Plessis scored 203 from 316 balls, including 24 fours. This is his first double century in first class cricket.

Du Plessis’s previous highest score in first class cricket of 162 not out was also struck against Border.

In the Badgers second innings he posted 101 not out (from 125 balls, 9x4). The Badgers recorded a comprehensive 254-run victory.

The previous batsmen to achieve this landmark was:

- Adam Bacher 210 & 112* (for Transvaal v Griqualand West in Kimberley; 1996/07

- Herschell Gibbs 200* and 272 (for South Africa v India A in Nagpur; 1996/97)

Last month, he structed a List A best of 112 against the Northern Cape in the One-Day Cup.

Du Plessis made his first-class debut for SWD at the age of 17 in 2016 and went on to represent South Africa at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand in 2018.