'The Punjab batsmen dug themselves into a hole' - Dale Steyn feels the 'better team' lost in the PBKS vs RR match

The Punjab Kings sensationally managed to lose the match against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) side on 21st September 2021. The KL Rahul-led outfit needed a meager 8 runs from the final 2 overs with 8 wickets in hand. But still, the Punjab side fell short of the target by 2 runs.

And now, former South African bowling colossus Dale Steyn has offered his thoughts on Punjab Kings’ defeat. Steyn opined that the Punjab side took the foot off the pedal and should have won the match against Rajasthan a lot earlier.

Adding that the Punjab Kings also experienced a bit of bad luck, the 38-year-old opined that the Punjab batsmen dug themselves into a hole, and suddenly a dot ball started working wonders for Rajasthan.

“I think Punjab took their foot off the pedal there. They should have won it earlier. And Tyagi has run in and he has bowled a good over. Don’t get me wrong. I have seen perfect yorkers go for four. But Punjab could not get bat on ball when they wanted, and a little bit of bad luck as well.

There was a wide that should have been called, Aiden Markram has nicked one, keeper’s dropped it, but short third man has got a miraculous save, and that could have gone for four. These little things keep building. You don’t have to bowl the perfect last over, the batters have already dug themselves into a hole through pressure and any ball that is a dot ball looks like a magic delivery,” said Steyn in a chat with Cricinfo.

It was crazy to watch: Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn added that credit should also be given to Kartik Tyagi for bowling an excellent final over, but ultimately, the pressure was built by the willow wielders. Adding that the better team lost, Steyn concluded by stating that the match between Punjab and Rajasthan showed that 180 is a gettable score in Dubai.

“Credit should be given to the bowler, but the pressure was built by the batsmen. It was crazy to watch, but I think the better team lost tonight. These kind of games happen, and it tells you that 180 is a gettable score in Dubai,” concluded Steyn.