Promising Andhra all-rounder Nitish Reddy stole the show in the first session as he lifted Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to 201-3 against table-toppers Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday. There was a touch of power, class and timing in Reddy’s eye-catching 42-ball 76 not out (3x4. 8x6). “I backed myself,’’ he said after his innings.

There was a huge roar from the crowd when SRH skipper Pat Cummins won the toss, but there was pin-drop silence when RR captured two wickets by the end of the Powerplay. SRH openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma (12) could not get off to their now-familiar blazing starts as seasoned left-arm seamer Trent Boult and off-spinner R Ashwin did not give them the liberty to swing their bats freely in the first four overs.