END OF OVER:20 | 5 Runs | NAM: 111/7 (53 runs required, RR: 5.55)
- JJ Smit9 (17b)
- Ruben Trumpelmann6 (4b)
- Adam Milne4-0-25-0
- Trent Boult4-0-20-2
So, that is that for this game. I will leave you with this bit from S Rajesh: If India win their last two games - against Scotland and Namibia - by a combined margin of 120 runs (scoring 180), their NRR will improve further to 1.303. In that case, Afghanistan's rate will stay above India's only if they beat New Zealand by at least 12 runs (after scoring 150).
And now, let's move to Dubai where India will be facing Scotland.
Kane Williamson: We knew what to expect here, it was a real scrape. We tried to maximise the shorter boundary. We got some reasonable match-ups in the end and got what's about par on this wicket. Afghanistan are a really, really strong side, they have done so well in this tournament and have got match-winners throughout their side. So looking forward to playing them.
Gerhard Erasmus: We did well for 15-16 overs in the middle but death overs didn't go our way. We have got one more game to nail that, against India. It was quite a tough pitch, 160 was a bit too much on that pitch today. As I said, it got away from us in the end. Jimmy Neesham is the Player of the Match: For us it's just about trying to do what we do. Trying to set up a good total. We were trying to get bat on ball as much as possible. We knew anything above 150 would be good. My bowling hasn't been required as much in this tournament as we have been going with five frontline bowlers but I am always happy to contribute when called upon.
5.20pm A comprehensive win for New Zealand and they go second on the Group 2 points table. If they beat Afghanistan in their next game, they will qualify for the semi-finals without getting into the net-run-rate calculations. But if they lose against Afghanistan, then they will out of the tournament. So for them, the next game is the virtual quarter-final.
Noman: "New Zealand only needs to win against Afghanistan. Because if they lose not only Afghanistan but India will play all out against Namibia for NRR."
Milne to wrap it up
END OF OVER:19 | 4 Runs 2 Wkts | NAM: 106/7 (58 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 5.57, RRR: 58.00)
- Ruben Trumpelmann1 (1b)
- JJ Smit9 (14b)
- Trent Boult4-0-20-2
- Tim Southee4-0-15-2
Sampath tells me New Zealand needed to restrict Namibia to 94 to overtake Afghanistan's NRR. Here's Trumpelmann
CG Williams c Phillips b Boult 0 (3m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Praveen: "NZ still has everything to play for in these two overs. A big win here will boost their NRR and come handy if they lose to Afg."
JN Loftie-Eaton c Guptill b Boult 0 (4m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
END OF OVER:18 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | NAM: 102/5 (62 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 5.66, RRR: 31.00)
- JJ Smit8 (13b)
- Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton0 (0b)
- Tim Southee4-0-15-2
- Trent Boult3-0-16-0
Loftie-Eaton is the new man but he is at the other end for now
ZE Green c Boult b Southee 23 (44m 27b 1x4 1x6) SR: 85.18
Kusal: "If you can't win against top teams you don't deserved play in Semi Finals, don't depend from other teams "
END OF OVER:17 | 4 Runs | NAM: 96/4 (68 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 5.64, RRR: 22.66)
- Zane Green18 (24b)
- JJ Smit7 (10b)
- Trent Boult3-0-16-0
- Adam Milne3-0-20-0
Praveen: "Absolutely no foot movement from Smit here. Is it because he is not accustomed to facing 140-145kmph balls." --- That could be one of the reasons