Mackay: Skipper Manish Pandey’s valiant century went in vain as India A lost to Australia A by a solitary run in a high-scoring thriller in the Quadrangular Cricket series on Tuesday and helped the hosts ensure their place in the final.

The Rahul Dravid-coached Indian side had already qualified for the final but the win helped Australia A qualify for the title clash ahead of South Africa A.

The win meant that Australia A finished on top of the table while India A came second after the round robin encounters.

Put in to bat, Australia A made a commanding 322 for six riding on twin centuries from Kurtis Patterson (115) and Nic Maddinson (118). India A’s Varun Aaron proved to be the most expensive bowler for the visitors as he was taken for 65 in seven overs.

In reply, India A finished on 321 for 8 in 50 overs despite Pandey’s 91-ball 110 and an attractive 74-ball 87 from Sanju Samson.

India A required 9 runs off the final over and they got 6 from the first four balls. With only 3 runs required from 2 balls, Samson holed out to Marcus Stoinis off Kane Richardson, his former Rajasthan Royals’s teammate.

With three runs required off the final delivery, Richardson bowled to a perfect plan as Jayant Yadav could manage just one run and Shardul Thakur was run out trying to go for a second run, which would have tied the match.

Earlier, a 157-run stand for the fifth wicket between Pandey and Samson raised visions of another India A win.

Pandey was the more fluent of the duo as he has been for the better part of the tournament, bringing up his second century.

His innings was studded with ten fours and three sixes — two off leg-spinner Cameron Boyce and one off pacer Richardson.

It was the skipper’s dismissal in the 47th over that ended the fightback as pacer Daniel Worral had him caught behind. The innings suddenly lost steam with Samson, who hit six boundaries and two sixes, failed to take the team past the finishing line.

Brief scores:

Australia A: 322/6 in 50 overs (Kurtis Patterson 115, Nic Maddinson 118, Shardul Thakur 2/50, Varun Aaron 1/65).

India A: 321/8 in 50 overs (Mike Pandey 110, Sanju Samson 87, Mandeep Singh 56).