An historical report in first-class cricket was damaged in Karachi on Saturday. Picture: AFP
Pakistan Tv (PTV) rewrote the historical past books on Saturday, breaking a report that had stood for greater than two centuries with a dramatic two-run victory over Sui Northern Gasoline Pipelines Restricted (SNGPL) within the President’s Trophy Grade-I on the Nationwide Financial institution Stadium.
In a unprecedented finale, PTV efficiently defended a goal of simply 40 runs, changing into the primary workforce within the 253-year historical past of first-class cricket to take action. The feat eclipsed a mark that had remained untouched since 1794, when Oldfield defended 41 towards the Marylebone Cricket Membership at Lord’s Outdated Floor.
PTV’s inconceivable triumph got here after the match had appeared firmly in SNGPL’s management for a lot of the competition. Batting first, PTV have been dismissed for 166, with skipper Amad Butt top-scoring with an unbeaten 46 in an in any other case fragile batting show. SNGPL’s bowlers saved tight management, led by Shehzad Gul, who claimed 4 wickets, whereas Shahnawaz Dahani and Sajid Khan picked up two apiece.
SNGPL replied with 238, securing a commanding 72-run lead. Their innings was anchored by wicketkeeper-batter Saifullah Bangash, whose counter-attacking 71 steadied the facet after that they had slipped to 94-6. For PTV, left-arm spinner Ali Usman was the standout, taking 4 wickets, with Amad Butt and Israr Hussain offering invaluable assist with three every.
Any hopes of a PTV resurgence appeared to fade within the second innings, as they have been bowled out for 111, leaving SNGPL a modest goal of 40. As soon as once more, Shehzad Gul proved decisive with the ball, ripping by way of the line-up to say a five-wicket haul.
What adopted, nevertheless, defied perception. Ali Usman produced a spell for the ages, dismantling the SNGPL batting order with figures of 6 for 9, exploiting flip and strain on a carrying floor. Amad Butt complemented him fantastically, mopping up the remaining wickets as SNGPL collapsed for 37.
The astonishing end sealed one of the crucial outstanding comebacks in first-class cricket historical past, handing PTV a victory that shall be remembered as one of many biggest within the annals of the President’s Trophy.
Info Minister Attaullah Tarar praised PTV for creating historical past within the President’s Trophy, saying the workforce’s outstanding victory and rise have been “no coincidence”.
Nicely executed my boys! Kudos to you
PTV’s rise is not any coincidence. From the President’s Trophy 2024/25 triumph, powered by children like Mohammad Shehzad and Shamyl Hussain, to making a world report within the President’s Trophy 2025/26 right now, that is what occurs when expertise is… https://t.co/CIhEEw1hyd
— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) January 17, 2026
Expressing delight within the achievement, the minister stated he felt immense satisfaction in watching PTV defend simply 40 runs within the fourth innings to register a historic win.
He attributed the success to a strict merit-based method, stating that he had refused all “sifarish”. “That is what occurs when expertise is backed, onerous work is valued and benefit is rewarded — benefit and solely benefit,” Tarar stated.
PTV head coach Mohammad Waseem additionally lauded his workforce’s historic effort. “I’m delighted with my workforce’s world report efficiency,” Waseem, a former Pakistan participant, advised AFP. “Our motto is to by no means surrender and battle until the final ball.”
He added that this was not the primary such turnaround by the workforce. “Now we have gained all three of our matches after being nicely behind by remaining constructive in all conditions,” Waseem stated.
