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Another almighty choke by England: Harry Brook and Brendon McCullum will be concerned at losing two games they had in the bag – and an attack who can’t finish a side off

LAWRENCE BOOTH: Three days after they failed to defend 430 against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, Harry Brook's bowlers allowed Pakistan's last-wicket pair to put on an unbroken 89 in Lahore.

By LAWRENCE BOOTH · Daily Mail

Published: Sunday, 25 October 2026 at 5:17 PM

Key Things to Know

Pakistan defeated England by one wicket following an unbroken 89-run tenth-wicket partnership in Lahore.
Lawrence Booth writes that Harry Brook and Brendon McCullum will worry about England's inability to close out winning positions.
Ben Duckett scored a century to help set Pakistan a target of 242 after England were bowled out for 241.

The Story in 60 Seconds

England suffered a dramatic one-wicket defeat against Pakistan in Lahore after failing to defend a target of 242. Pakistan's final pair, Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf, combined for an unbroken 89-run partnership after Pakistan fell to 154 for nine. The result marks England's second consecutive late collapse, following a failure to defend 430 runs against Sri Lanka three days earlier in Rawalpindi.

Lawrence Booth argues that captain Harry Brook and head coach Brendon McCullum will be concerned by the bowling attack's inability to finish matches. Ben Duckett scored a century to lead England to 241, but Shadab's unbeaten maiden ODI century and a crucial overturned lbw decision guided Pakistan to victory. England now face difficult qualification odds in the tri-series.

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