Nitish role is to set up game for Klaasen

Hyderabad, May 3: Entrusted with the task of shepherding Sunrisers Hyderabad’s middle-order, young Nitish Reddy has been doing the job with aplomb at a time when he is seen by many as a future India all-rounder, thanks to his ability to bowl lively medium pace.

Opting to bat in the IPL game against table-toppers Rajasthan Royals here on Thursday, Reddy (76 not out) and Travis

Head (58) produced explosive fifties, while Heinrich Klassen made an unbeaten 19-ball 42 to power SRH to 201 for three.

Experienced seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar then did the star turn with a sensational final over as SRH pulled off a heist, stunning RR by just one run in a last-ball thriller to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Nitish, 20, stated that his role was to rebuild the innings after quick wickets.

“From the last two matches, we are losing quick wickets and I have to go. My role is to carry on till the 13th and 14th over so that Klaasen gets a license to bang. There is no point in Klaasen and Samad coming early, but not getting to score freely,” said Nitish at the postmatch press conference.

The all-rounder hailed Bhuvneshwar after the veteran pacer bowled a brilliant final over to help Hyderabad seal a dramatic win. “I was looking at who was going to bowl. When I saw Bhuvneshwar was going to bowl, I got the confidence that he was going to pull it off. During his prime, he had done it so many times. I did not think we were going to win, I thought either we’d lose or tie. But that lastball wicket, I felt so happy,” Nitish said.

During his explosive knock, Nitish smashed RR’s in-form Yuzvendra Chahal for two fours and two sixes in the 13th over. Nitish said that he backed himself to attack the seasoned leg-spinner.

He also said the victory against RR, following losses to RCB and CSK, is important. “Beating RR will boost our confidence, they are at the top of the points table,” he concluded.