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Last-over win gives Delhi final berth

Rishabh Pant cuts the ball fine for a four Getty Images

Delhi made it to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final with a slim three-wicket win they sealed in the final over of the match against Uttar Pradesh. Chasing 141, UP needed 13 runs from the last six balls with two wickets in hand and started the last over with a six but the run-outs of Saurabh Kumar, who kept UP in the match until then with an 18-ball 33, and Mohsin Khan meant they fell short.

After being put in to bat, Delhi finished with 140 for 9 in 20 overs with Rishabh Pant's 34-ball 58, his fifth 50-plus score in seven matches. Delhi were off to a wobbly start, with Gautam Gambhir caught behind for 1 off seamer Amit Mishra in the first over. However, Pant and Dhruv Shorey (12), who has been in good form lately, added 38 runs in 3.5 overs. But, Shorey and Unmukt Chand (0), playing his first match of the tournament, fell in successive overs. Delhi slumped to 67 for 4 when Nitish Rana, who had a good IPL season with Mumbai Indians last year and stands a good chance of being picked up at this year's auction, fell for a duck too.

By the time Pant was run out in the 12th over, he had struck three sixes on the leg side and five fours around the ground. It was then left to Milind Kumar, who struck 32 off 28 balls, and captain Pradeep Sangwan (14*) to steer Delhi to a respectable total. Ankit Rajpoot, Mohammad Israr and Mohsin finished with two wickets each.

While UP's top-order batsmen got starts, nobody went on to get a big score. After captain and in-form batsman Suresh Raina (16 off 12 balls) and Akshdeep Nath (1) fell cheaply, Rinku Singh (34 off 26) and Saurabh tried to take UP home. However, Saurabh's run-out off the second ball of the last over resulted in Uttar Pradesh falling short, as they couldn't score six off the last four deliveries. Milind effected three run-outs, including Saurabh's, and also took two catches. Left-arm spinner Pawan Negi, who is likely to be snapped up in the auction, finished with 2 for 13 from his two overs.

UP 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st18UA SharmaS Chaudhary
2nd29SK RainaUA Sharma
3rd3UA SharmaRK Singh
4th4AD NathRK Singh
5th41SN KhanRK Singh
6th5Saurabh KumarRK Singh
7th1Amit MishraSaurabh Kumar
8th1Saurabh KumarMohd Israr
9th33Saurabh KumarMohsin Khan
10th2AS RajpootMohsin Khan

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

Super League Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
RAJ431120.519
PNJB431120.08
KNTKA42281.418
MUM4134-0.302
JHK4134-1.747
Super League Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
DELHI431120.6
UP42281.011
BRODA42280.234
BENG4228-0.692
TN4134-1.178
Central Zone
TeamMWLPTNRR
RAJ541160.716
UP532120.585
VIDAR532120.505
MP532120.112
RLYS5144-0.79
CGR5144-1.237
East Zone
TeamMWLPTNRR
BENG440160.863
JHK431121.08
ODSA42281.085
TPURA4134-1.326
ASSAM4040-1.484
North Zone
TeamMWLPTNRR
DELHI541162.267
PNJB53212-0.14
SVCS52380.121
HRYNA5238-0.2
HP5238-0.804
J + K5238-0.838
South Zone
TeamMWLPTNRR
KNTKA541161.354
TN541160.435
AP541160.109
HYD5238-0.074
KER5144-0.375
GOA5050-1.499
West Zone
TeamMWLPTNRR
BRODA440161.218
MUM42280.803
SAU4228-0.222
GUJ4134-0.405
MAHA4134-1.27