Flower: RCB batters chose between the chase and top spot

Andy Flower, head coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said he left it to the batters to choose between pursuing the steep target or ensuring a top-of-table finish against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday. RCB lost by 55 runs chasing 255, but scored enough to keep their net run-rate over SRH and Gujarat Titans, finishing at the top of the table.

Flower said the initial talk was to chase 255, but they had also discussed other scenarios.

"We were in a position to keep pushing to chase down 255 but ultimately we got the job done and topped the league. It's quite a tricky situation when you've got these conflicting things," Flower said. "Winning the game and ensuring we top the league."

"We did discuss the various targets. I think we needed 166 to confirm top two, 179 to confirm top of the league and obviously 255 to win the game. I thought Venky (Iyer) batted brilliantly up front to give us that impetus."

Securing the top spot ensures RCB play Qualifier 1. The team winning Q1 has gone on to lift the title in 12 out of the last 15 editions.

Flower reserved special praise for Iyer, who smashed 44 off 19 after being pushed to open following Jacob Bethell's injury.

"I've got a lot of respect for Venky. He's had to wait for his chance. Every time he's had a chance, he's taken it. His attitude through the season has been outstanding. He's been exemplary, to be honest."

Sunrisers head coach Daniel Vettori said the wicket turned out as anticipated, but RCB's dropped catches helped them get a bigger score.

"I think it was exactly how we anticipated, that's why we batted first. RCB dropped a lot of catches, which gave us more runs than we potentially deserved. I thought 200 to 220 was a really good score on that surface."

He added that SRH have only won three tosses this year, but always bat first on that pitch.

On plans to counter Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Vettori said: "Our openers are going to take anyone on. It doesn't swing in Hyderabad, so that negates a big percentage of what Bhuvi does. To have any chance of winning, we had to take him on. Fortunately, today was our day."

RCB will face GT in Qualifier 1 on May 26, while SRH face the fourth-placed team in the Eliminator on May 27.