Defiant half-centuries by Mohit Goel and Sumit Panda did not prove enough as Madhya Pradesh beat Bihar by 159 runs in a Ranji Trophy Plate match at Mecon Stadium at Ranchi on Wednesday.

Chasing a target of 402, after the visitors bundled them out for 85 in their first innings, Bihar were all out for 242 in 85.5 overs in their second innings.

MP had made 133 and 353 for eight in their first and second innings respectively.

Resuming at their overnight score of 103 for six, Goel (81 not out), and skipper Sumit Panda (62) put on 128 runs for the sixth wicket to bring some cheer in the home camp. At lunch, Bihar were 230 for six.

But Narendra Hirwani broke the century partnership for Bihar soon after lunch when he tempted Panda to go for a big hit but was caught by Amay Khurasia in the slips.

Bihar then lost three wickets in quick succession to leave debutant Goel stranded on 81 not out, which contained nine boundaries and two sixes.

For MP, veteran leg spinner Hirwani, who took four wickets for 86 runs, was ably supported by young off-spinner Amol Kokje who took three wickets for 64 runs.

Scoreboard:

Madhya Pradesh 1st innings: 133

Bihar 1st innings: 85

Madhya Pradesh 2nd innings: 353 for 8 decl

Bihar 2nd innings:
S Hussain c Kokje b Sodhi           6
M S Dhoni b Hirwani                26
C Jha st Ojha b Hirwani            12
R Raja lbw b Kokje                 22
M Goel not out                        81
S Prakash lbw b Kokje               4
Shahid Khan lbw b Kokje             0
S Panda c Khurasia b Hirwani       62
M Diwakar c Bundela b Hirwani       6
S Gupta b Pandey                    4
S S Rao run out                     0

Extras (b-4, lb-3, w-2, nb-10)     19

Total (all out in 85.5 overs)     242

Bowling: Sodhi 10-2-19-1, Pandey 25-8-59-1, Hirwani 30.5-8-86-4, Kokje 15-2-64-3, Ali 5-1-7-0.