Manoj Tiwary struck an unbeaten 151 as Bengal rode into the final with a six-wicket victory over Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy Elite cricket semi-final at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday.
Resuming their second innings at the overnight score of 71 for 2, Bengal reached the winning target 70 minutes into the post-tea session of the fifth and final day to register the 13th entry into the title round and second in a row.
The in-form Tiwary (268b, 367m, 24x4, 2x6) played a gritty knock and added 164 runs for the third wicket in the company of Abhishek Jhunjhunwala (54) to set up the hosts' victory in the riveting match.
Tiwary reached his third hundred of the season facing 176 balls in 258 minutes, taking the side to 144/2 at lunch and 244/3 at tea.
Jhunjhunwala, who played 189 deliveries during his 274-minute vigil in the middle, got out leg before to Sunil Joshi.
The duo started off carefully, not taking undue risks.
"Our plan was to take it session by session, and play the full day, ensuring we did not lose wickets," Tiwary later said.
After Rohan Gavaskar departed for 12, Deep Dasgupta (19 not out) and Tiwary were involved in a 58-run unfinished partnership for the fifth wicket to carry Bengal to victory.
For Karnataka, B Akhil (2/75), Sunil Joshi (1/58) and S Dhananjaya (1/46) were the wicket-takers.
Bengal will take on Mumbai in the final at Wankhede stadium, Mumbai, from February 2-6.
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