LUCKNOW, Nov. 5 -- Deepti Sharma's fluent 89 powered Uttar Pradesh to a 36-run win over Jharkhand in their Senior Women's T20 Trophy Elite Group D encounter, at the MCA Cricket Stadium, Gahunje, Pune, on Wednesday. Uttar Pradesh posted 162 for 3 in 20 overs before restricting Jharkhand to 126 for 9. Agra's Deepti was the difference between a competitive total and a commanding one. Coming in at No 3, she struck 10 fours and two sixes in a 67-ball 89, scoring at a strike rate of 132.83 and batting through to the end of the innings. Varnika Singh gave Uttar Pradesh early momentum with a rapid 44 from 32 balls, including seven boundaries and a six. The opening stand was worth 82 before Varnika was bowled by Durga Murmu in the 12th over, but Deepti ensured the innings did not lose direction. Muskan Malik contributed 13, and Ayushi Soni made a brisk seven, but Deepti's control was decisive. Durga Murmu was Jharkhand's most successful bowler with 2 for 30, while Shanti Kumari took 1 for 23; however, the rest of the attack could not apply sustained pressure as Uttar Pradesh finished on 162 for 3. Chasing 163, Jharkhand lost Aishwarya Singh in the first over and then slipped from 26 for 1 to 33 for 4 inside six overs. Isha Keshri made 12, Kumari Megha 9 and Ritu Kumari 4 as the top order failed to build partnerships. Durga Murmu attempted to repair the chase with a composed 40 off 35 balls, hitting six fours, and captain Anandita Kishor later injected urgency with 29 from 20 deliveries. But once Murmu fell at 112 for 7 in the 18th over, the required rate and remaining batting depth made the task too steep. Sandhya Chhetri led the bowling with 3 for 26 from her four overs, removing Ritu Kumari, Anandita Kishor and Aarti Kumari. Khushi Tyagi was equally influential, taking 2 for 18, while Arju Singh claimed 2 for 22. Deepti also chipped in with the ball, conceding just 10 runs in two overs and dismissing Aarti Kumari stumped. Uttar Pradesh stand at the fourth position with 12 points in their group and now they play their last league match against Uttarakhand on Friday....