Champions Trophy: SA beat New Zealand by five wickets

South Africa bounced back into contention for 2009 ICC Champions Trophy glory with a five-wicket triumph over New Zealand at SuperSport Park in in Centurian on Thursday.

Upset by Sri Lanka in the opening match of the ODI tournament two days ago, the Proteas had to win and did so with relative ease before a large, holiday crowd.

New Zealand were all out for 214 in 47.5 overs and South Africa cruised to 217-5 in 41.1 overs and another win on Sunday over England would virtually assure the hosts of a place in the knockout phase.

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Yuvraj Singh out of Champions Trophy

India's Champions Trophy campaign dealt a massive blow as middle-order mainstay Yuvraj Singh was ruled out of the eight-nation event due to a fractured right-hand finger.

The stylish left-hander, who picked up the injury during a training session today, has been advised rest for six weeks and will return home.

Delhi middle order batsman Virat Kohli has been named as Yuvraj's replacement.

India will open their campaign against arch rivals Pakistan on 26th September.

Yuvraj was enthusiastically taking part in the fielding session at the University Ground in Johannesburg.

But in the process, he ended up hurting his right finger so badly that he couldn't participate in the batting and bowling sessions which were conducted later in the day.

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Champions Trophy: Team India leaves for South Africa

The Indian cricket team on Friday left to participate in the ICC Champions Trophy, to be held in South Africa from 22nd September.

The team heaved a sigh of relief as opener Gautam Gambhir cleared a fitness test to join his teammates for the same.

Gambhir had sustained a groin injury during the BCCI Corporate Trophy, in which he led the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).

The team will play a warm-up match against New Zealand on 20th September.

Placed in Group A along with Australia, Pakistan and the West Indies, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men will open their league engagements on 26th September against Pakistan.

The Team:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Dinesh Karthick, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra, R P Singh.

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