Shillong, Jan 16: Meghalaya will be on home turf as they take on Bihar in the first Ranji Trophy Plate Group semifinal match at the MCA Ground in Polo here from Tuesday.

Play will begin at 8:30am, with spectator seating available. Entry will be free.

The BCCI has adopted a new format for the Plate Group this season, with the top four teams from the round robin stage qualifying for the semifinals. The winners of these two matches will progress to the final and will also qualify for next season’s Elite Groups.

Meghalaya qualified at the top of Plate Group, having registered four consecutive victories in a highly impressive team performance. Sikkim were second, Manipur third and Bihar fourth.

Meghalaya have already beaten Bihar once this season in Shillong; in a remarkable turnaround the hosts overcame a 97-run deficit to beat Bihar by four wickets on December 29.

They will be aiming to qualify to the semifinals as well, drawing on that same fighting spirit that led them to the top of the group.