A strong all-round display by George Linde was not enough as South Africa A slipped to a two-wicket defeat India in their second one-day match in Trivandrum on Saturday.
The result means the tourists fall 2-0 behind in their five-match series.
The Cape Cobras man first thrashed an unbeaten 52 off 25 balls (1x4, 5x6) to help the tourists post 162/5 in their 21 overs.
Linde then bagged 1/21 in three overs, but it was not enough as the hosts completed the victory with one over and two wickets to spare.
Ishan Kishan thumped 55 off 24 balls (5x4, 4x6) to wrap up the win.
The match was essentially a T20, although the 163-run target always looked achievable for the Indians.
In fact, the total would have been far less had it not been for Linde’s heroics after South Africa slipped to 15/2 and then 75/4 by the 13th over, having lost the toss and been put into bat first.
Janneman Malan was run out for six, while game one centurion Reeza Hendricks managed just six.
Captain Temba Bavuma’s 40 and 24 from Khaya Zondo helped the away side rebuild, but they still had plenty to do to get up to a competitive total once the latter pair fell.
That is when Heinrich Klaasen (31) and Linde came together, sharing in a 52-run fifth-wicket stand, followed by Linde’s explosion at the end that lifted the SA A to above 160.
The South Africans got the early wicket they needed when Ruturaj Gaikwad (one) was dismissed by Beuran Hendricks (1/20).
But a flowing second-wicket 49-run stand between Anmolpreet Singh (30) and Shubman Gill (21) kept India A in control.
After both fell to Bjorn Fortuin (1/27) and Linde, Manish Pandey (13) helped Kishan take the score to 115 in the 14th over – in a stand worth 58 for the fourth wicket.
And, despite a flurry of late wickets, including 2/25 from Junior Dala, Krunal Pandya (23 not out) held his nerve to see his side over the line with six deliveries to spare.
Match three takes place at the same venue on Monday.