Run-outs cost us dearly: De Villiers

Melbourne, Feb 22 (IANS) South Africa captain AB de Villiers rued the run-outs that cost them dearly as they slumped to a 130-run defeat to India in their World Cup Pool B encounter at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here Sunday.

Chasing a target of 308, South Africa were cruising at 108/2 in the 23rd over when de Villiers, trying to return for a second run, got run out. Wickets kept falling thereafter. Another run-out, that of David Miller, affected the run flow of the Proteas.

The Africans finally wrapped up in the 41st over with 177 on the board.

"The run-outs cost us dearly tonight, just when we got started with the bat. We lost our way,” said de Villiers at the post match presentation ceremony.

The skipper, however, praised his bowlers for restricting India to 307/7 but added that losing Vernon Philander due to an injury dented their bowling strength.

“Thought our bowlers fought back well, we were looking at 350 at one stage. It was a 270-275 kind of wicket. But looking at the way the Indians batted, it was a good effort to restrict them to 307. We just have to regroup as a batting unit and work hard on our game,” said the 31-year-old.

“I still thought it was a good toss to win (for Dhoni). It was one of those where you wanted to bat first and put a team under pressure who had fielded in the heat, but still no excuses. We lost Vernon and I needed Parny's (Wayne Parnell) overs. Otherwise I'd have ended up bowling again. We just didn't bat well enough."