Day 15 Talking Points: Another demoralising loss for India, dream return for Hassan

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Spinners stifle India

New Zealand pacers bowled brilliantly to restrict India to 110/7, accounting for five of the seven wickets that fell, but the spinners played their part to perfection to induce mistakes from the under-fire batting lineup.

Mitchell Santner was introduced in the Powerplay as soon as Trent Boult removed the left-handed Ishan Kishan and managed to keep KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma to just two runs. He bowled yet another quiet over after the Powerplay to keep the pressure on India after the wicket of Rahul.

The very next over, Sodhi was brought into the attack and made an immediate impact with the wicket of Rohit Sharma, who holed out to Martin Guptill at long-on.

He then got the big wicket of Virat Kohli just after the drinks break to break the back of the Indian innings.

Though Santner finished wicketless, he was their most economical bowler, going for just 15 in four overs. Together, the spinners gave away just 32 in the eight overs while accounting for the big wickets of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Mitchell impresses yet again as opener

Daryl Mitchell has only opened twice in T20Is so far in his career, including today's game against India, and has taken to it like fish to water. In both the games, he finished as New Zealand's highest run-scorer.

Mitchell opened for New Zealand in their first Super 12 game against Pakistan and struck a 20-ball 27 that included two sixes and a four. Along with the established Martin Guptill, he gave the Kiwis the perfect launching pad with a 36-run stand, though the rest of the batters couldn't make the best of it.

Against India, he teed off only after the wicket of Martin Guptill and almost batted through to the win. He took the attack to Ravindra Jadeja, smashing him for two fours and a six as New Zealand finished the Powerplay on a high. He then dished out the same treatment to Shardul Thakur in the 10th over, taking him on for two fours and a six.

He fell one run short of a fifty but New Zealand will be very happy with how he has adapted to opening the batting and will be hoping that he can keep it going in the tournament.

India's semi-final hopes hanging by a thread

India have a lot to ponder after one-sided losses to Pakistan and New Zealand. Though in both matches, it was the batting that disappointed, the bowlers too have not hit their strides in the World Cup so far.

India may not be out of contention despite two losses in two games, but they will now have to hope for other results to go their way while they themselves win the remaining games.

The net run-rate too is a cause of worry for India, which after the loss against New Zealand, is at a negative 1.609.

India are yet to play Afghanistan, Scotland and Nambia and Virat Kohli will be hoping for better performances and results against them.

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The Hamid Hassan fairytale

In a career that has been ravaged by several injuries, winning the Player of the Match award in a World Cup game was a memorable moment for Hamid Hassan.

Before this game, Hassan last played a T20I for Afghanistan in March 2016. He was drafted into the playing XI replacing Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who was unfit for the game.

After bowling a good first over in the Powerplay, he was brought back into the attack at a crucial juncture. Hassan struck not once, but twice in the over, which well and truly derailed Namibia's chase that was already faltering.

He first bowled Gerhard Erasmus with a peach of a yorker before getting the better of JJ Smit three balls later. He then returned at the death for his final over and dished out another stunning yorker to dismiss David Wiese.

Fitting farewell for Asghar Afghan

Asghar Afghan announce his retirement from international cricket on the eve of their game against Namibia. And Afghanistan ensured that they give the send-off he deserves with a smashing win.

Even in his last game, Afghan made an important contribution to Afghanistan's batting performance that saw them post 160 after choosing to bat first. He scored 32 from 23 balls, and strung a brilliant 35-run partnership with Mohammad Nabi to give Afghanistan's innings some much-needed impetus in the middle overs and the death.

Afghan was given a guard of honour before and after he took the field to bat.