Ben Stokes conceded that England's World Cup journey concluded with a lack of sustained pressure on their opponents, describing the team's failure to maintain dominance as a key factor in their disappointing campaign.
The defending champions, finishing seventh in the 10-nation tournament, faced setbacks against the likes of the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, managing only three victories out of nine matches.
Expressing frustration, Stokes, who contributed 84 runs in the last game, acknowledged the team's inability to deliver consistent performances and emphasised the failure to "keep our foot on the throat" as a contributing factor.
Despite a slim chance for Pakistan to secure the last semi-final spot by beating England by 287 runs, their fate was sealed early in the game after England's captain, Jos Buttler, won the toss and chose to bat. Pakistan concluded the tournament with four wins and five losses, and captain Babar Azam expressed deep disappointment in his team's overall performance, citing mistakes in bowling, fielding, and batting.
Reflecting on missed opportunities, Azam highlighted the crucial one-wicket loss to South Africa as a turning point. He noted that winning that particular match could have altered their story in the tournament.
As the tournament moves forward, New Zealand secured the last semi-final spot and is set to face undefeated India in Mumbai, while South Africa will take on Australia in Kolkata 24 hours later.
