LAHORE: President’s Trophy defending champions PTV proved it is never over until it is over when they successfully defended a 40-run target to beat a fancied SNGPL by two runs on the third day at the National Bank Stadium on Saturday.

In doing so, PTV broke the 232-year world record for successfully defending the lowest score in first-class cricket, beating England’s Oldfield’s XI 1794 feat when they beat MCC by six runs while defending 41 runs.

SNGPL’s 37 all-out also brought back memories of National Bank’s first innings total of 20 against Pakistan Customs in the 1998-99 Patron’s Trophy at the UBL Sports Complex. National Bank lost that match by an innings and 221 runs after Customs posted 451.

The heroes of PTV’s fairytale victory were Ali Usman and Amad Butt. Ali Usman followed up his first innings figures of 28-8-66-4 with 9.4-5-9-6, while Amad recorded second innings figures of 10-1-28-4 after claiming three for 42 in the first innings.

PTV had conceded a 72-run first innings lead and barely managed to set SNGPL a 40-run target after scoring 111 in their second innings. They had resumed on the third day at 99 for five and could add only 12 runs to their overnight score.

SNGPL’s Shehzad Gul, who had taken four for 40 in the first innings, grabbed five for 28, while Sajid Khan snapped up three for 28 and Shahnawaz Dahani took two for 38.

In turn, PTV’s Ali Usman captured five of the six top-order wickets to leave SNGPL tottering at 19 for six before Saifullah Bangash scored 14 to steer his side to 37 all-out in 19.4 overs.

At the SBP Sports Complex, KRL were in a winning position against SBP when play ended on the third day.

KRL, after skittling out SBP for 106 on the opening day, resumed the third day’s play at 365 for eight and were all-out for 368 with overnight batter Sarmad Bhatti adding only one run to his overnight score of 100. Niaz Khan and Shahid Aziz picked up one wicket apiece to finish with four for 78 and three for 72, respectively.

Trailing by 262 runs on the first innings, SBP were 289 for nine when play ended – an overall lead of 27 runs. Qasim Akram (62), Mohammad Hurraira (54), Hasan Raza (49) and Shahid Aziz (42 not out) were the key SBP batters, while Ahmed Bashir was the most impressive KRL bowler with five for 80 after taking three for 39 in the first innings.

Ghani Glass were eyeing a come-from-behind victory against WAPDA at the UBL Sports Complex. When play ended on the third day, WAPDA, chasing 243 runs for victory, were in dire straits at 108 for five.

After conceding an 81-run first innings lead, Ghani Glass produced a much-improved batting performance when they posted 323 all-out after starting the day at 166 for two.

Mohsin Riaz, who started the day at 23, led Ghani Glass’s fightback with a gutsy 92 that came from 167 balls with 12 fours and a six. For WAPDA, Khalid Usman took four for 89, while Naqeebullah snapped up three for 43.

At the KCCA Stadium, Sahir Associates were leading OGDCL by 137 runs with two wickets standing when play ended on the third day on Saturday.

OGDCL, after dismissing Sahir Associates for 248 in their first innings, added 37 runs to their overnight score of 220 for six to be bowled out for 257. Danish Aziz was out after scoring 69, while Rewayat Khan finished as the pick of the Sahir Associates bowlers with five for 59 and Hafiz Mohammad Suleman took four for 62.

Limiting OGDCL’s first innings lead to only nine runs, Sahir Associates saw off the day at 147 for eight after Mohammad Faiq scored 48 and Ahmar Ashfaq 43.

Scores in brief (day 3 of 4, round 4)

Pakistan Television beat Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited by two runs, National Bank Stadium

PTV 166 all out, 66.2 overs (Amad Butt 46 not out, Mohammad Taha 38, Taimur Khan 24, Mohammad Mohsin 22; Shehzad Gul 4-40, Shahnawaz Dahani 2-23, Sajid Khan 2-75) and (overnight 99-5) 111 all-out (Mohammad Taha 27, Mohammad Suleman 25; Shehzad Gul 5-28, Sajid Khan 3-28, Shahnawaz Dahani 2-38)

SNGPL (overnight 58-3) 238 all out, 67.3 overs (Saifullah Bangash 71, Omair Bin Yousuf 42, Sajid Khan 34, Abdul Samad 25; Ali Usman 4-66, Amad Butt 3-42, Israr Hussain 3-66) and 37 all-out (Saifullah Bangash 14; Ali Usman 6-9, Amad Butt 4-28)

Khan Research Laboratories v State Bank of Pakistan, SBP Sports Complex

SBP 106 all out, 38.2 overs (Muhammad Ghazi Ghori 40; Mohammad Hamza 4-17, Ahmed Bashir 3-39, Abdul Wahid 3-49) and 289-9 (Qasim Akram 62, Mohammad Hurraira 54, Hasan Raza 49, Shahid Aziz 42 not out, Abdullah Fazal 35, Ahmed Bashir 5-80, Aqib Liaqat 2-57, Mohammad Hamza 2-73)

KRL (overnight 365-8) 368 all-out, 130.3 overs (Waqar Ahmed 138, Sarmad Bhatti 101, Imran Rafiq 35, Saad Baig 29; Niaz Khan 4-78, Rameez Aziz 2-40, Shahid Aziz 3-72)

Water and Power Development Authority v Ghani Glass, UBL Sports Complex

Ghani Glass 142 all out, 46.4 overs (Ali Razzaq 64 not out, Tayyab Tahir 33; Naqeebullah 3-46, Mujtaba Khan 2-12, Khalid Usman 2-21, Mohammad Zeeshan 2-39) and (overnight 166-2) 323 all-out (Mohsin Riaz 92, Khawaja Arham 68, Kashif Ali 53, Tayyab Tahir 36; Khalid Usman 4-89, Naqeebullah 3-43, Mohammad Zeeshan 2-85)

WAPDA 223 all out, 67.1 overs (Ayaz Tasawar 78, Muhammad Akhlaq 38, Sharoon Siraj 23, Bismillah Khan 21; Noman Ali 7-59, Mohammad Rameez Jnr 2-55) and 108-5 (Malhar Rasool 47, Ayaz Tasawar 20; Noman Ali 3-43)

Sahir Associates v Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, KCCA Stadium

Sahir Associates 248 all out, 97 overs (Mohammad Faiq 93, Asim Ali Nasir 59, Mohammad Saleem 43, Razaullah 29; Asif Afridi 7-73) and 147-8 (Mohammad Faiq 48, Ahmar Ashfaq 43, Faham-ul-Haq 24; Danish Aziz 2-14, Jawad Ali 2-35, Asif Afridi 2-45)

OGDCL (overnight 220-6) 257 all-out, 106.2 overs (Umar Siddiq 79, Danish Aziz 69, Asif Afridi 30, Israrullah 30, Haroon Arshad 23; Rewayat Khan 5-59, Hafiz Mohammad Suleman 4-62)