Kohli gets among the runs to lead India to win over Middlesex

Sport360 staff 06:17 23/08/2014
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  • At last: Virat Kholi has endured a frustrating summer with the bat.

    Virat Kohli and Ambati Rayudu were the difference as the Indians eased to a 95-run victory over Mid­dlesex at Lord’s ahead of the one-day series against England next week.

    Captain for the day Kohli and Rayudu were the only bright sparks with the bat, making 71 and 72 re­spectively, although the loss of four wickets in as many overs to off-spinner Ollie Rayner saw the tour­ists slump to 230 all out after just 44.2 overs.

    Any thoughts that the hosts could spring an upset were soon dashed as the Indians put on a fine bowl­ing display, led by leg spinner Karn Sharma with three for 14, as Mid­dlesex collapsed to 135 all out in­side 40 overs.

    After India lost three wickets for 52 runs, Kohli and Rayudu showed some class to steady the ship in a fourth-wicket stand worth 104.

    That ended when Kohli fell to Ravi Patel in the 30th over and Rayudu eventually retired out with India on 211 for six, with Ravindra Jadeja dismissed in between. Rayn­er ended up with figures of 4-32,

    Middlesex’s chase got off to a dis­astrous start as Nick Gubbins and captain Dawid Malan both fell in­side four overs to leave them on 11 for two.

    The Indians bowlers were in a miserly mood and they were happy to share the wickets out as Bhuv­neshwar Kumar, Mohammed Sha­mi, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Dhawal Kulkarni and Ravi Ashwin all took one each to put Middlesex in trouble.

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