Did Cradock close the range too quickly at Coronel?

Would Cradock have improved his chances by slowing the approach and waiting for darkness?

Probably to some extent: delaying the close could have shortened Germany's favorable firing period and created a less one-sided night action.

The Germans had only a limited sunset interval in which the British ships were sharply silhouetted. Cradock's closing movement let von Spee exploit that visibility advantage at ranges favorable to accurate German fire. Holding the range open or reducing the rate of approach might have kept Good Hope and Monmouth intact until darkness. A confused short-range night action would still be dangerous, but it offered a better chance than continuing an illuminated approach against a superior squadron.