England suffered a third consecutive defeat in the ongoing tri-series in Pakistan on Sunday, losing to the hosts in a dramatic finish at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. Chasing a modest target of 242, Pakistan secured victory with an unbroken 89-run partnership for the tenth wicket, led by Shadab Khan’s maiden One Day International century and support from Haris Rauf.
England had appeared to be in control after reducing Pakistan to 154 for nine in their 34th over. Ben Duckett’s fluent century had helped England reach a total of 241, a score many believed would be defendable given the state of the game. However, England’s bowlers, despite a notable effort from Gus Atkinson early on, were unable to dismiss the last pair as Shadab Khan and Rauf steadily chipped away at the target.
The turning point came late in the innings when Atkinson trapped Shadab leg-before wicket with 21 runs still needed. Initially, it appeared as though England would secure a much-needed win, with players and spectators beginning to celebrate. Yet, after a review, technology confirmed a faint inside edge off Shadab’s bat, overturning the decision and allowing him to continue his innings. Shadab went on to complete an impressive 92-ball century, including five sixes, showcasing his resilience from No. 8 in the batting order.
Tensions rose on the field in the closing stages, with a verbal exchange occurring between Haris Rauf and England’s Will Jacks after a close call was not given a wide. England captain Harry Brook and umpire Rashid Riaz intervened to calm the situation. Rauf then scored the winning runs with a boundary off debutant Henry Crocombe, marking the highest tenth-wicket partnership to seal a successful ODI chase, surpassing a 47-year-old record set in the 1975 World Cup.
England’s white-ball head coach, Brendon McCullum, and Brook will likely examine the recurring issue of closing out matches, especially given the absence of key bowlers such as Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, and Adil Rashid. While the bowling attack showed more discipline than in the previous game against Sri Lanka—where England had conceded 430 runs—this failure again highlighted an inability to finish matches from strong positions.
Brook expressed confidence in the bowling unit despite the loss, stating that England “did an exceptional job to restrict Pakistan” but acknowledged the batting lineup “didn’t quite get enough runs on the board.” Other contributors included Jamie Overton and Liam Dawson, who impressed with their bowling spells, and Sam Curran, who bowled economically though without breakthroughs.
England’s chances of reaching the tri-series final now hinge on Pakistan's result against Sri Lanka, coupled with their own upcoming match against Sri Lanka. Even if they secure a win, England will require a superior net run rate to advance. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s lower-order batting heroics highlight the challenges England face in maintaining consistency at this level.