A fine all-round performance by S P Singh (3-15 and 66*) put Punjab in the final by virtue of a 94-run first innings lead against Bengal, at the Dhruv Pandove Stadium.
With the weather gods finally relenting on the third day of the match, Punjab managed to skittle out Bengal for a paltry 77 runs in its first innings. In reply, the hosts started badly, they were 10 for two at one stage, but both S P Singh (66*) and Vikramjit Sodhi (40*) kept the nerves to enable Punjab to compile 171 for 4 at the draw of stumps.
Meanwhile, in the other semi-final between Haryana and Uttar Pradesh played at the DCW Cricket Ground, no play was possible on each of the three days. Uttar Pradesh skipper Prashant Malaviya won the coin-toss to put his team in the final. Uttar Pradesh will square off with Punjab in the final to be played at the Dhruv Pandove Stadium from Wednesday, 13 Jan 1998.