LUCKNOW, Feb. 17 -- Muskan Malik smacked a sparkling century to help former runners-up Uttar Pradesh crush Pondicherry by 62 runs to keep their hopes alive for a knockout berth in the Senior Women's One Day Trophy, at the Niranjan Shah Stadium Ground C in Rajkot on Monday. Malik's 131-ball 117, which contained 11 boundaries and two sixes, helped Uttar Pradesh post a challenging 314/5 while batting first after winning the toss. In reply, Pondicherry could make 252 in 49.5 overs. It was a good toss to win even though Uttar Pradesh lost opener Sampada Dixit (5) in the very second over as inform Varnika along with Malik added 103 runs for the second wicket. Varnika was stumped by Raveena off SA Lonkar after making 56-ball 64, which contained 10 hits to the fence and a six. Malik even after losing Varnika and keeper-batter Nishi Kashyap (0) in quick succession, kept stroking the ball nicely all around the ground and along with Sonali Singh 145 runs for the fourth wicket before being caught by Amruta Saran off SA Lonkar. Sonali, however, shouldered the responsibility well, hitting 68 in 74 balls with the help of eight boundaries. Later, Nishu Choudhary along with skipper Archana Devi added an unbeaten 23 runs for the sixth wicket. Whereas Choudhary chipped in 21-ball 35 with the help of three boundaries and two sixes, Devi struck two boundaries in her 10-ball 13. For Pondicherry, SA Lonkar and Abirame R shared four wickets between them, whereas Yashi Pandey took 1/48. In contrast to Uttar Pradesh's innings, Pondicherry kept struggling from the very start in the run chase as they lost two quick wickets for just 36 in five overs. A 51-run fifth wicket stand between SA Lonkar (31, 51b, 2x4) and C Prathyusha (34, 36b, 4x4) remained the biggest for the side. G Divya remained top scorer with 56, which came off 58 balls with the help of seven boundaries, whereas Yashi pandey (28, 29b, 3x4) and Arunadevi (33, 46b, 4x4) also made useful contributions and failed to push the side anywhere close to UP's total. Full marks to Uttar Pradesh bowlers Sonali Singh (2/36), Arju (2/27), Shilpi Yadav 92/46) and Archana Devi (2/58) as they bowled on a tight line to keep Pondicherry batters in check. Sandhya Chhetri took 1/37. With table topper Karnataka losing their penultimate match to Maharashtra on Monday, Uttar Pradesh with 16 points in Elite Group A, will now be required to win their last league game against Assam on Wednesday and that too with a big margin to qualify. But much will depend on Karnataka's last match against Pondicherry also on Wednesday. If Karnataka wins that game, it will be the end of the road for Uttar Pradesh even if they win the match against Assam. Despite conceding 66-run first innings lead to Himachal Pradesh, spirited Karnataka (58 pts) on Monday qualified for the knockout of the U-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy, finishing second in the Elite Group D behind Chhattisgarh (74 points). This, however, knocked Uttar Pradesh (52 pts) out of the knockout race. While chasing Himachal Pradesh's first innings total of 603/7, at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cricket Stadium at Amtar, Karnataka scored 537, leaving the match ending in a tame draw....