Punjab and Delhi advanced to the knock-out stage of the Ranji Trophy one-day cricket tournament after all the three matches of the final round in the North Zone league were abandoned due to inclement weather on Monday.

All the three venues in Himachal were lashed by intermittent rain accompanied by icy winds, bringing an anti-climactic end to what could have been a thrilling close to the league phase.

Plans to have a shortened contest did not bear fruit as wet outfields showed no signs of drying up.

Punjab had already assured themselves of a knock-out berth but Delhi and Himachal were tied for the second spot.

Delhi sneaked through as they had beaten the hosts in the earlier round, and also had a better overall aggregate.

Himachal were to play Punjab in Dharamsala and needed a victory to get through.

Delhi faced Services at Una while the third match at Nadaun pitted Haryana against Jammu and Kashmir.

All three teams got two points each.