Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan qualify for Super League phase from Central zone

Raipur: Uttar Pradesh defeated Chhattisgarh by six wickets in a must-win Central Zone league match to qualify for the Super League stage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 cricket tournament on Tuesday. Their place in the knock-out stage already assured, Rajasthan, however, lost by four wickets to Railways in another Central Zone match. Both Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, however, qualified for the knock-outs by finishing first and second respectively in the Central Zone league. [caption id=“attachment_4221359” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Getty[/caption] Rajasthan topped the zone by garnering 16 points from four wins and a loss, while Uttar Pradesh (12 points) finished a close second ahead of Ranji Trophy champions Vidarbha (12) on net run rate. Needing a comprehensive win to seal their place, Uttar Pradesh produced a collective effort to edge past Chhattisgarh. Opting to bat, Chhattisgarh could only muster 113 runs for the loss of eight wickets with skipper Amandeep Khare top-scoring with a run-a-ball 33. For Uttar Pradesh, Ankit Rajpoot (2/21), Amit Mishra (2/19) and Saurabh Kumar (2/16) picked up two wickets apiece. Akshdeep Singh (43 not out) and Rinku Singh (33) played good hands to steer Uttar Pradesh home in 11.2 overs. Right-arm medium pacer Shakeeb Ahmed (2/29) picked up two wickets for Chhattisgarh. In another Central Zone league match, Railways restricted Rajasthan to 150 for six after opting to bowl, a target which the railwaymen overwhelmed with three balls to spare and four wickets in hand.