SATV, Kathmandu, May. 24 - Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru sacrificed their attempt to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad to ensure they finished top of the Indian Premier League table on.

Bengaluru got what it wanted despite losing by 55 runs.

Top of the table on net run rate, Bengaluru will host Gujarat Titans in the first play-off on Tuesday, with the winner progressing directly to the final in Ahmedabad on 31 May.

Hyderabad, level on points with Bengaluru and Gujarat but third in the table, will host the second play-off on Wednesday against a team yet to be determined.

Hyderabad posted 255-4, its ninth total of more than 200 in 14 games,  thanks to half-centuries from Ishan Kishan (79), Abhishek Sharma (56) and Heinrich Klaasen (51).

That left Bengaluru needing only 166 runs to secure a top-two finish. After a blazing start from Venkatesh Iyer and the cheap dismissals of Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal, captain Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya set their sights on reaching 166 rather than winning the match and got there in the 17th over.

They then passed 178 to secure top spot in the table. Bengaluru finished on 200-4, with Pandya unbeaten on 41 after Patidar fell for 56.

“The top priority was to finish top (of the table). The target was a lot,” Patidar said.

“The top five (Hyderabad) batters played very well and they dominated … and when we batted, the slower bouncer was gripping and they executed the bouncers and yorkers very well.”

Iyer, opening the batting for the first time this season, smashed four sixes and four boundaries in his rapid 44 off 19 balls, but once he was dismissed and Kohli was caught at cover for 15 off 11 balls inside the powerplay, Bengaluru revised its priorities.

Fast bowlers Eshan Malinga (2-33) and Sakib Hussain (1-31) stood out for Hyderabad.

Earlier, Hyderabad’s top order tore into the Bengaluru pace attack, including senior pros Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, who conceded 106 runs from their eight overs without taking a wicket.

Sharma benefited from three dropped catches before completing his 21-ball half-century with five sixes and four boundaries. Kishan and Klaasen continued to attack the pace bowlers and did not spare spinner Pandya, who conceded 24 runs from his two overs before dismissing Klaasen in the 17th over as Hyderabad posted its highest total of the season.

“It’s pretty impressive to get the score that we did,” Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins said. “Everyone’s hitting their straps.”(AP)