Farcical run-outs cruel South Africa's Champions Trophy

South Africa ruined their own chances at progressing to the Champions Trophy semi-finals with two shocking run-outs against India.

The Proteas put on just 191 runs, with the Indians chasing it down easily, but the target could have been higher with a little more composure.

South Africa's innings, built slowly by openers Quinton de Kock (53) and Hashim Amla (35), unravelled with consecutive run-outs in near-perfect conditions in south London, and skipper AB de Villiers was the first culprit.

De Villiers, under more pressure after scoring 4 and 0 in the Trophy, picked the lengths easily and looked comfortable in making 16 off 12 balls but when Faf du Plessis guided a Ravindra Jadeja delivery to point, Hardik Pandya was fast on the ball and accurate on the throw and de Villiers was caught well short despite diving.

"I take full responsibility for AB's run-out," du Plessis said after the match.

"That's my fault. Obviously he is a big player for us and he was looking good and it was a crunch time in the game. Big mistake from my part running AB out."

David Miller came in and lasted only three balls after he was run out in a comical mix-up.

Du Plessis cut Ravichandran Ashwin to third man, set off, hesitated, set off again then changed his mind again and dived back. He made it to his crease a fraction before Miller, who was sent back to the dressing room by the TV umpire.

"I suppose, after that (de Villiers) moment, Dave (Miller) came in and we discussed that it is extremely loud out there and difficult to hear each other so the communication between the two of us was just for the next five overs, just play it as risk free as possible," du Plessis said.

"Try and get the partnership going in, settle the partnership because the last thing you want to do is go wicket, wicket. And then two or three balls later, obviously a miscommunication, and then Dave came down and ran. Not a great sight to see two guys standing in the crease."

The fourth and fifth run outs by India in this tournament sent a shiver through the South Africans that they couldn't shake off.

Du Plessis was eventually bowled by Pandya for 36, Chris Morris was out for 4, and JP Duminy was left as the last specialist batsman with 13 overs left. He couldn't rally the tail. The last four wickets went for 13 runs, and the innings finished, aptly, on a run-out.

Jadeja took 1-39 from his 10 overs, conceding no boundaries, and Ashwin, playing his first one-day international since January because of the left-handers in South Africa's lineup, took 1-43.

with AAP