PTV Rewrites History: 231-Year-Old World Record Broken in Karachi

In an extraordinary display of grit and bowling dominance, Pakistan Television (PTV) shattered a 231-year-old world record yesterday by successfully defending a target of just 40 runs in a first-class match. Playing in the President’s Trophy Grade-I at the National Bank Stadium, PTV bowled out a star-studded Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) for a mere 37 runs, securing a historic two-run victory.

A Match of Dramatic Collapses
The game appeared to be firmly in SNGPL’s control after the first innings. PTV had been dismissed for 166, while SNGPL responded with 238, taking a commanding 72-run lead. PTV’s second innings was equally precarious; they resumed the third day at 99-5 but lost their remaining five wickets for just five runs in a staggering eight-ball sequence. This collapse left SNGPL needing only 40 runs to win on a deteriorating Karachi pitch.

The Two-Man Bowling Masterclass
What followed was a defensive effort that defied all cricketing logic. PTV head coach Mohammad Waseem deployed only two bowlers for the entire second innings: left-arm spinner Ali Usman and right-arm pacer Amad Butt.

Usman was the architect of the destruction, finishing with sensational figures of 6 for 9, while Butt provided lethal support with 4 for 28. The SNGPL batting lineup, led by Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood (who was dismissed for a duck), crumbled in just 19.4 overs. Only wicketkeeper-batter Saifullah Bangash managed to reach double figures, top-scoring with 14 before becoming the ninth man to fall.

Shattering an 18th-Century Milestone
The victory eclipses a world record that had stood since the late 18th century. In August 1794, a team called Oldfield successfully defended a target of 41 against the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) at the Lord’s Old Ground. For over two centuries, no first-class team had defended a smaller total until PTV’s heroics yesterday.

The win propels PTV to second in the President’s Trophy table, while SNGPL, coached by former Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, drops to third. As the domestic season progresses toward the February finals, this “Karachi Miracle” will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest turnarounds in the 253-year history of the professional game.