Follow UsNitish Kumar Reddy is playing as a batting all-rounder in the Indian playing eleven at Lord's in the third Test against England. Very few would have expected him to be India’s most successful bowler in the first session at Lord’s ahead of ace pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep. However, the man from Andhra Pradesh made both the English openers 'Naatu Naatu' to his bowling, and both were dismissed in his first over.
Bumrah and Akash Deep bowled brilliantly for the first hour, making Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley play and miss repeatedly. England were 39/0 in 13 overs when drinks were taken in the first session at Lord’s.
However, right when it felt like England would want to capitalise after the break, Reddy got Duckett caught out down leg after being flicked for a four on the second ball. It was a back-of-a-length delivery down leg, and Duckett gloved the ball to the keeper.
After that, Reddy got his outswingers going against the new batter Ollie Pope, who edged him first ball, but Shubman Gill dropped a tough catch going down on his right side.
Then the all-rounder bowled an absolute jaffa on the last ball of his over to Crawley, which swung out first, and then held its line after pitching and also got extra bounce on it. Crawley, who, looking to smother the ball down, edged it behind to Rishabh Pant.
Luck can be a weird thing in sports, and it was there at display in the first session for India, as Reddy reaped the rewards after a disciplined first hour by the Indian pacers.