India win at Lord's as Kohli finds form

India did not put on the best batting display in their one-day tour match against Middlesex at Lord's, but still managed to win the game by 95 runs thanks to their all-round bowling effort.

India did not put on the best batting display in their one-day tour match against Middlesex at Lord's, but still managed to win the game by 95 runs thanks to their all-round bowling effort.

India were all out for 230 when batting first, with Virat Kohli making a welcome return to the runs with a half century. Middlesex were then all out for 135 in less than 40 overs, with a top score of 20.

Middlesex won the toss and chose to field first, with England paceman Steven Finn getting a game ahead of the ODI series. India started off poorly, with Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan both failing to take advantage of the county conditions.

Kohli and Ambhati Rayudu then put on a century stand to salvage the innings, taking the score from 52 for three to 156 when Kohli departed. He had made a valuable 71 off 75 balls, finally getting some runs after averaging 13 in the Test series.

Rayudu also bagged a good score, before retiring out on 72. It was downhill from there though as the India lower order faltered, with Ollie Rayner taking four wickets. This included two caught and bowled dismissals in consecutive deliveries.

The home chase started badly as openers Nick Gubbins and Dawid Malan were both out for single figures. The Indians' attack spread the wickets out across the board, with only Karn Sharma taking more than one.

Not even England's Eoin Morgan and Ireland international Paul Stirling could crack the 20-run barrier, out for 16 and 17 respectively. The top score of 20 was reached by Ryan Higgins and James Harris, while John Simpson and Andy Balbirnie got 19 each.

India's next challenge is the first ODI against England, on 25 August, where they will need the rest of their batting line up to come to the party too.

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