In an astonishing turn of events on Saturday night, Pakistan etched a remarkable chapter in cricket history. The National Stadium in Karachi witnessed an extraordinary spectacle as Pakistan Television (PTV) achieved an unprecedented feat in first-class cricket by successfully defending a meager target of just 40 runs against Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL), clinching victory by a mere two runs in their President’s Trophy match.
For those who want to catch every thrilling moment of the 2025/26 KFC Big Bash League, FOX CRICKET is your go-to platform, with Kayo Sports offering new users a fantastic deal of just $1 for the first month. (https://kayosports.com.au/?pg=cricket&extcamp=fsaeditoriallinkcricket-edt-fsp-lnk-awr-grc-cri-kyo&channel=fsa&campaign=fsacontra&voucher=)
PTV had previously posted scores of 166 and 111, which set the stage for Sui Northern, who had amassed a commendable 238 runs in their initial innings, to secure what seemed like an easy win. With PTV holding a narrow lead of only 39 runs, the expectation was that Sui Northern would effortlessly chase down the modest target. However, a dramatic turnaround ensued, leading to Sui Northern's collapse as they failed to achieve the required 40 runs, despite having all ten wickets remaining.
In a jaw-dropping performance, Saifullah Bangash emerged as the top scorer for Sui Northern in their second innings, managing only 14 runs. The top order faltered spectacularly, with the first five batsmen collectively contributing just 13 runs to the scoreboard.
Ali Usman, a left-arm spinner, was the star of the show for PTV, delivering a phenomenal bowling performance that resulted in figures of 6 wickets for just 9 runs, culminating in a remarkable 10-wicket haul after also claiming four wickets in the first innings. On the other hand, fast bowler Amad Butt played a crucial role in this unprecedented victory, taking four wickets in the second innings while conceding 28 runs over 10 overs, maintaining an impressive economy rate of 2.80.
This match has now set a new record for the lowest successful target defended in the annals of world first-class cricket, surpassing a long-standing 232-year-old record. That record was established back in 1794 when the Marylebone Cricket Club dismissed Oldfield for just 34 runs while chasing a target of 41 at the historic Lord’s.
