Flower: RCB batters chose between the chase and top spot

Flower said that the initial talk in the camp after the first innings was to chase 255, but they had also discussed the various other scenarios at play. "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 after the game, "winning the game and ensuring we top the league".

"We did discuss the various targets. So 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.

"And then we wanted the batsmen to get a feel of the game out there and make a decision about whether they wanted to take on the 255 or the 180."

Flower reserved special praise for Iyer, who has been brilliant in his limited chances so far. Pushed to open with Jacob Bethell missing out to injury, Iyer smashed 44 off 19, keeping them in the hunt against an improbable target. It meant that RCB played with three overseas players, despite having Jordan Cox as a top-order option.

"I've got a lot of respect for Venky," Flower said. "He's had to wait for his chance. And every time he's had a chance, either as an Impact Player when we've needed the extra batsmen because we've got ourselves into some trouble in the innings, or in the last two matches when he's been given a chance, first at number four in Dharamsala, and then today opening the batting, he's taken all of those chances. So his attitude through the season has been outstanding.

"I've got a lot of respect for a man that's played a lot of IPL cricket, played for India, and was sitting on the sidelines waiting for his chance. He's been in that dugout. He's had a big smile on his face all the time. He's practised hard every single practice session. He's worked hard. He's worked hard at his bowling, his fielding and his batting. And he's been exemplary, to be honest. So a lot of respect for him".

Flower noted that the pitch got slower and the slower balls gripped more, making batting not so easy later on. Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Daniel Vettori, meanwhile, said that the wicket turned out how they had anticipated, but were also helped along by RCB to get a better score than they had estimated.

"I think it was exactly how we anticipated, that's why we batted first," Vettori said. "I think it was like the Punjab wicket, where there were a lot of runs to be had, but like the Punjab game, RCB dropped a lot of catches, which actually gave us more runs than we potentially deserved, so the score looked bigger than you would normally imagine, but I thought 200 to 220 was a really good score on that surface.

He also added that they've only won three tosses this year, but always batted first on pitch two over the last three years, which they repeated against RCB.

As it often happens with SRH, the platform for their big total was laid in the Powerplay, where the top order tore into the new-ball attack. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the joint-holder of the Purple Cap, gave away 25 in his first two overs, finishing with figures of 0-51.

"I think you've seen our openers bat for 14 games for three years," Vettori said on the plans to counter Bhuvneshwar, a former SRH player. "They're going to take anyone on, and it doesn't swing in Hyderabad, so that negates a big percentage of what Bhuvi does, and he's been an exceptional bowler for every team he's been at. And he's had another fantastic year, so to have any chance of winning, we had to take him on, and fortunately, today was our day".

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