DUBLIN: India will continue to experiment with their middle order in the Twenty20 Internationals against Ireland and England, captain Virat Kohli said after the team made a winning start to a lengthy tour on Wednesday.

India shuffled its middle order in their 76-run victory over Ireland, allowing the likes of Suresh Raina and all-rounder Hardik Pandya to bat up the order.

“Look, we’ve already announced we will experiment with the middle-order a lot,” Kohli after Wednesday’s first fixture at the Malahide Cricket Club Ground. “Even in the next few T20 games, even in England, we will look to throw in guys and surprise the opposition. We’re going to give everyone a go in this series. The management and me as captain decided it.”

India also have K.L. Rahul and Dinesh Karthik in their ranks who are certain to play in the remaining T20 against Ireland on Friday, followed by three more against England next week.

India posted 208-5 off their 20 overs in the first game before Ireland, who are ranked 14 places below India, finished at 132-9.

Opener Rohit Sharma top scored with 97, batting through to the final over before being bowled trying to go for the big hit that would have brought up his century.

India only lost their first wicket in the 16th over when Shikhar Dhawan departed for 74 after putting on 160 with Sharma.

Three Indian wickets fell in a thrilling final over — including Kohli for only his second international T20 duck — although they still managed to end their innings with a six.

Peter Chase was Ireland’s most successful bowler with 4-35.

Ireland struggled to overcome the early loss of Paul Sterling (1) and although James Shannon struck some heavy blows in his 60, there was never much chance of their repeating some of their previous limited-over successes which have seen then beat Pakistan and England over 50 overs.

Slow left-armer Kuldeep Yadav was most successful bowler with 4-21 from his four overs. Spin partner Yuzvendra Chahal also weighed in with three wickets.

Scoreboard

INDIA:

R.G. Sharma b Chase 97
S. Dhawan c Thompson b O’Brien 74
S.K. Raina c O’Brien b Chase 10
M.S. Dhoni c Thompson b Chase 11
H.H. Pandya not out 6
V. Kohli c Thompson b Chase 0
M.P. Pandey not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-6) 10

TOTAL (for five wkts, 20 overs) 208

FALL OF WKTS: 1-160, 2-186, 3-202, 4-202, 5-202.

DID NOT BAT: B. Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, J.J. Bumrah, Y.S. Chahal.

BOWLING: Rankin 4-0-34-0 (1w); Chase 4-0-35-4 (3w); Thompson 2-0-31-0 (1w); O’Brien 3-0-36-1 (1w); Dockrell 4-0-40-0; Simi Singh 1-0-12-0; Stirling 2-0-16-0.

IRELAND:

P.R. Stirling c Kuldeep b Bumrah 1
J.N.K. Shannon lbw b Kuldeep 60
A Balbirnie st Dhoni b Chahal 11
Simi Singh c Kohli b Kuldeep 5
G.C. Wilson st Dhoni b Chahal 5
K.J. O’Brien c Dhawan b Chahal 10
S.R. Thompson c Pandya b Kuldeep 12
S.W. Poynter b Kuldeep 7
G.H. Dockrell b Bumrah 9
W.B. Rankin not out 5
P.K.D. Chase not out 2

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-1) 3

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 20 overs) 132

FALL OF WKTS: 1-4, 2-45, 3-72, 4-85, 5-96, 6-96, 7-114, 8-123, 9-126.

BOWLING: Kumar 4-0-16-0; Bumrah 4-1-19-2 (1w); Pandya 4-0-36-0; Chahal 4-0-38-3; Kuldeep Yadav 4-1-21-4.

RESULT: India won by 76 runs to lead two-match series 1-0.

UMPIRES: M. Hawthorne (Ireland) and R. Black (Ireland).

TV UMPIRE: A.J. Neill (Ireland).

MATCH REFEREE: B.C. Broad (England).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Kuldeep Yadav.

SECOND MATCH: Dublin, Friday (8:00pm PST).

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2018