KARACHI: Pakistan Television broke a 231-year-old record for the lowest total successfully defended in first-class cricket when Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited failed to chase down a paltry target of 40 in the President’s Trophy on Saturday.

The defending champions shot SNGPL for a paltry 37 to win the match by a mere two runs on day three of the four-day game.

The previous record, set by Oldfield when they successfully defended a target of 41 against the Marylebone Cricket Club to secure a win by six runs at the Lord’s Old Ground, had stood since August 1794.

“I am delighted with my team’s world record effort,” PTV’s head coach Mohammad Waseem told AFP. “My team’s motto is to never give up, fight till the last ball. This is the not the first time, we have won all our three matches coming from well behind by remaining positive in all situations.”

SNGPL, whose head coach is former Pakistan Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq with another former captain Azhar Ali their batting coach, had taken a 72-run lead in the first innings after PTV folded for 166, and looked set for an easy win when their opponents posted only 111 in their second innings.

But, with the pitch at the National Bank Stadium deteriorating on the third day, batters fell in quick succession and left-arm spinner Ali Usman wreaked havoc with six wickets for nine runs, while pacer Amad Butt took four for 28 — the only two bowlers used in their second innings.

The star-studded SNGPL batting led by Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood were bowled out in 19.4 overs with just one batter Saifullah Bangash crossing double figures with 14.

Shan was out without scoring while Test players, Mohammad Ali made six and spinner Sajid Khan just three. Pakistan’s international players Omair Bin Yousuf made six and Abdul Samad five.

In other action at the President’s Trophy, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited put Sahir Associates under pressure, Khan Research Laboratories neared a win against State Bank of Pakistan while Wapda’s tie with Ghani Glass hung in the balance.

Sahir Associates led OGDCL by 138 runs after they reached stumps at the KCCA Stadium with 147-8 on the board in their second innings.

OGDCL posted 257 in their first innings before their spinners Danish Aziz, Jawad Ali and Asif Afridi ripped through Sahir Associates’ line-up with two wickets apiece despite some resistance from Mohammad Faiq (48) and Ahmar Ashfaq (43).

SBP continued to pay for their massive first-innings deficit as despite reaching 289-9 in their second innings, they led KRL by a mere 27 runs at the SBP Sports Complex. KRL pacer Ahmed Ashir picked up 5-80 to put his side on the brink of victory.

Chasing 243 to win, Wapda reached the close of play at 108-5 against Ghani Glass at the UBL Sports Complex. Noman Ali picked up all five wickets for Ghani Glass, who closed their second innings at 323.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2026