England blew another ODI from a winning position. Pakistan's last-wicket partnership pulled off an improbable chase in Lahore, leaving England with another loss they should have closed out.
This is becoming a pattern for England in one-day cricket. They build strong positions, control matches, then find new ways to lose. Pakistan's tail-enders stayed composed when it mattered most, which is the opposite of what England's bowlers delivered in the final moments.
The details matter here. England had Pakistan in trouble. The match looked decided. Then the last pair batted through, built momentum, and shifted the entire complexion of the game. It's the kind of loss that stays with a team, especially when you've seen it happen before.
This wasn't a case of England getting outplayed for forty overs. They competed hard, made good decisions for most of the match, then couldn't finish. That's worse in some ways than a straight defeat. Teams that let matches slip away like this develop bad habits. Bowlers start doubting themselves. Fielders tighten up. The next close game becomes harder to win.
England came to Pakistan as the better team on paper. They left with another loss that raises real questions about their ability to close matches when pressure mounts.