Rajkot: Cheteswar Pujara’s unbeaten 158 went in vain as India A pulled off a thrilling four runs win over India B to book a berth for the final of the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy on Sunday.

Batting first, India A rode on Shikar Dhawan’s 152 off 139 balls to set an imposing target of 336 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

India B in pursuit of the huge target played cautiously till the 40th overs. Requiring 111 runs to win from 10 overs with seven wickets in hand, Pujara then came to the party and upped the ante.

He was on a spree and hit almost everything that was delivered at him. He took his side agonizingly close to the victory but then just could not do enough to script a memorable win.

Needing 16 in the last over, they could manage just 11 runs.

Pujara's knock came off 126 balls and was laced with 16 fours and couple of sixes.

Parwinder Awana was the pick of the bowlers for as he took 3/69.

India B will now take on Bengal on Monday to decide the other finalists.

Earlier battiing first, Dhawan continued his good run in the tournament and hit 20 boundaries for his century.

For India B, pacer Umesh Yadav picked up two wickets for 83 runs while Praveen Kumar and Harmeet Singh took a wicket apiece.

Brief scores:

India A: 335 for 4 in 50 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 152, Robin Uthappa 67, Dinesh Karthik 66 not out; Umesh Yadav 2/83).

India B: 331 for 5 in 50 overs (Cheteswar Pujara 158 not out, Srikkanth Anirudha 63; Parvinder Awana 3/69).

By Indian Sports News Network