3 occasions when the runout of AB de Villiers cost South Africa the match

If the ignominy of scoring runs against quality bowlers isn't enough, the last thing a batsman can afford is to get himself run-out against the complete run of play. A run-out at a crucial juncture of a game not only costs the batsman his wicket but it also acts as a catalyst for the spirits of the opposition team.

AB de Villiers, though a supreme athlete hasn't always come across as a smart runner. In the ongoing Test match against Australia, South Africa's hopes of pulling off a heist in their pursuit of 417 got a severe jolt when their best batsman and the highest run-scorer in first innings (77, not out) got run-out in a bizarre manner.

Markram pushed the ball to deep square leg and de Villiers took off from the non-striker's end defying Markram's denial while a vibrant David Warner rocketed a throw to Nathan Lyon who completed the due proceedings. de Villiers hobbled away for a duck, the second golden duck of his Test career. This was not the first time though when AB has gotten himself run-out at a crucial juncture of a game that had significant repercussions on the Proteas.

Here's a look back at the instances when AB de Villiers run-out cost South Africa:

#3 New Zealand vs South Africa, 3rd Q/F of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Mirpur

A jubilant New Zealand after de Villiers' run-out.

The third Quarter-Final of the 2011 World Cup offered South Africa the best possible chance to win a knockout encounter and shed the dreaded 'CHOKERS' tag once and for all. They were up against the Kiwis, the perennial 'dark horses' known for punching above their weights in crucial matches.

South Africa restricted New Zealand to a sub-standard 8-221 as their bowlers led by Morne Morkel (3-46) made life difficult for the Kiwi batsmen barring Jessie Ryder who made a pristine 83. The Proteas looked on course in their chase at 3-121 with Duminy and AB de Villiers at the crease. But then tragedy struck twice for South Africa. The first one came in the form of JP Duminy who lost his middle stump while trying to cut the ball off Nathan McCullum.

Faf du Plessis arrived to play his part in the second one that came in the form of a run-out of AB de Villiers. du Plessis tapped the ball to mid-wicket and calls AB for a sharp single but Martin Guptill, one of New Zealand's better fielder, was up to the task as he rocketed away from the throw to keeper Mccullum who whipped off the bails in a flash. The replays displayed de Villiers short of his crease. His wickets proved to be a huge moment in the game as South Africa slipped to 7-132 and despite a valiant knock by du Plessis (36), the Proteas ended up 49 runs short of the requisite target.

Result: New Zealand won by 49 runs.

#2 India vs South Africa, Group Match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)

de Villiers' run-out changed the course of the match.

India had never beaten the Proteas in a World Cup encounter and the 2015 encounter offered them the most legitimate chance of reversing the trend especially after a thumping win over Pakistan in their first game.On the back of a bludgeoning knock by Shikhar Dhawan (137) and an astounding counter-attack by Ajinkya Rahane (79), India posted a competitive 7-307 in their 50 overs.

Despite posting a compelling total India nevertheless had to get past South Africa's famed batting line-up spearheaded by their skipper AB de Villiers. They got past Amla (22) and de Kock (7), however the biggest moment in the game arrived in the 23rd over. Faf du Plessis (55) and AB de Villiers (30) had resurrected South Africa's fledgeling innings with a 68 run stand and the duo looked set for a big knock.

The fifth ball of the 23rd over would cause a serious dent in their hopes as de Villiers, after driving the ball to deep cover took on Mohit Sharma's arm while going for the second run only to find himself a good couple of inches short.The wicket of de Villiers proved to be a massive moment in the game as the Indian bowlers constituted a stranglehold on South Africa's innings and eventually bowled the team out for 177, 130 runs adrift of the target.

Result: India won by 130 runs.

#1 India vs South Africa, ICC Champions Trophy 2017, The Oval, London

A desperate dive from de Villiers could not save the day for him and the Proteas.

The final group stage game between India and South Africa was effectively a Quarter-Final with the teams losing to Sri Lanka and Pakistan respectively in their previous encounter.

South Africa batted first and at 2-140 looked prime for a competitive first inning score with du Plessis and de Villiers at the crease when the duo was involved in yet another mishap. de Villiers responded to Faf's call for a quick single after the latter had patted the ball to point. However, for all of de Villiers frantic efforts, Pandya's throw came on time and MS Dhoni did the rest.

A gutted AB de Villiers walked off the field paving way for yet another magnanimous collapse as the Proteas lost their last eight wickets for 51 runs.India didn't break a sweat in their pursuit of 192 set by the Proteas and on the back of sublime knocks by Shikhar Dhawan (78) and Virat Kohli (76) romped home by eight wickets.

Result: India won by eight wickets.