GQEBERHA, DECEMBER 20

Tony de Zorzi scored his maiden ODI hundred as South Africa beat India by eight wickets to level the three-match series on Tuesday.

De Zorzi scored 119 runs off 122 balls, including nine fours and six sixes, as South Africa finished with 215-2 in 42.3 overs.

That was after India was restricted to 211 runs in 46.2 overs with Sai Sudharsan and skipper Lokesh Rahul scoring half-centuries.

Left-arm pacers Nandre Burger and Bueran Hendricks shared five wickets for 64 runs in 19.2 overs. Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj finished with 2-51.

Paarl will host the final and deciding ODI on Thursday. India won the first ODI in Johannesburg by eight wickets.

Opener Reeza Hendricks scored 52 off 81 balls, putting on 130 runs off 167 balls for the first wicket with de Zorzi.

It was a calm start by the South African openers in face of a lowly target - 39 for no loss in the first 10 overs. The Proteas had failed to score 120 runs in their recent two ODIs against India, thus underlining the cautious approach.

De Zorzi reached 50 off 55 balls, with five fours and a six. He hit another three sixes and four fours to reach the century landmark in his fourth ODI.

His 100 came off 109 balls. De Zorzi's previous best in three matches was 28 in the first ODI.

Rassie van der Dussen scored 36 off 51 balls after Hendricks fell to Arshdeep Singh (1-28) in the 28th over.

He was out caught off Rinku Singh - a maiden ODI wicket on debut - before de Zorzi finished off proceedings with his sixth six of the evening.

Earlier, put into bat, India had trouble contending with the seaming conditions on offer. Unlike with South Africa in Johannesburg, its batting didn't completely fold.

But the hosts were able to make early dents with Burger sending back Ruturaj Gaikwad back for four. He then had Tilak Varma caught for 10 as India was down to 46-2 in 11.1 overs.

Sudharsan, playing his second ODI, scored a consecutive half-century and added 68 off 91 balls with Rahul for the third wicket.

Lizaad Williams got the breakthrough with Sudharsan out caught in the 27th over. He made 68 runs off 83 balls, with seven fours and a six. His dismissal opened the floodgates for India, as it lost the last eight wickets for 97 runs.

Hendricks bowled Sanju Samson for 12, while Maharaj got the vital wicket of Rinku Singh. The in-form left-hand batter was out stumped for 17 on his ODI debut.

In between, Burger picked his third wicket – Rahul was out caught for 56 off 64 balls.

Burger finished with 3-30 in 10 overs, while Hendricks took 2-34.

South Africa had won the toss and opted to field. It brought in Hendricks and Williams in place of wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi and bowling all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo. India too made one change, handing Singh a debut as Shreyas Iyer joined up the Test squad.

The two-test series begins in Centurion on December 26.