Middlesex lose despite Kartik146;s five-for

Left-arm spinner Murali Kartik8217;s five-wicket haul in the second innings could not ressurect Middlesex8217;s fortunes as they lost to Derbyshire by 15 runs in a four-day county cricket match at Southgate.

Kartik, who took two wickets in the first innings, polished off the tail to return with figures of five for 38 off 25.2 overs in the second innings to restrict Derbyshire to 199. Derbyshire, who made 340 in their first essay of the Division Two match, gained an 82-run first innings lead over the hosts by knocking them over 258.

Chasing a victory target of 282, Middlesex were dismissed for 266 as half-centuries by skipper Ed Smith 65 and Andrew Strauss 53 went in vain. Karthik failed with the bat in both innings, managing a duck and two in both his efforts at the crease.