231-year-old cricket world record falls in Pakistan
Cricket
A 231-year-old world record was broken in Pakistan’s President’s Trophy as PTV defended the lowest successful defence in first-class cricket history.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – A 231-year-old world record in cricket history was broken during Pakistan’s President’s Trophy Grade One first-class tournament, producing one of the most extraordinary results ever witnessed in the game.
The historic moment unfolded in Karachi, where Pakistan Television (PTV) successfully defended the lowest target ever recorded in first-class cricket, setting a new world record by dismissing Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) for just 37 runs while defending a target of 40.
Chasing what appeared to be a straightforward total, SNGPL suffered a dramatic collapse as their batting line-up failed to withstand sustained pressure. Despite requiring only 40 runs for victory, the entire side was bowled out for 37, handing PTV a place in the global record books.
HISTORY MADE AT NATIONAL BANK STADIUM, KARACHI
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 17, 2026
PTV defend just 4️⃣0️⃣ runs SNGPL - the smallest target ever successfully defended in first-class cricket, breaking a record set by Oldfield against MCC in 1794!
Scorecard: https://t.co/femkduLBIr#PresidentTrophy pic.twitter.com/rHAPaynmif
Saifullah Bangash was SNGPL’s top scorer with 14 runs, underlining the scale of the collapse. The innings also featured a rare statistic, with three batters, including captain Shan Masood, dismissed for ducks.
With this result, PTV achieved a feat unmatched in 231 years of recorded first-class cricket, surpassing a record that had stood since 1794, when an MCC side failed to chase a target of 41 runs against Oldfield.
The President’s Trophy encounter now holds the distinction of producing the lowest successful defence in first-class cricket history, elevating it to the status of a world record while consigning SNGPL to an unwanted place in the tournament’s history.
