South Africa's openers both scored centuries as the hosts set India a victory target of 281 runs in the second one-day international in Durban.
Quinton de Kock (106 off 125 balls) and Hashim Amla (100 off 160) were the stars for South Africa in a game that was reduced by one over to a 49-each game.
De Kock was the first to depart in the 36th over when he swept Ravichandran Ashwin's delivery straight to the man at square leg.
AB de Villiers (3) came in and was gone in the next over as he was stumped by MS Dhoni off the bowling of Ravindra Jadeja.
Amla's wicket fell with five overs left in the day as he nicked Mohammed Shami's delivery through to Dhoni just after he had reached three figures.
South Africa had plenty of wickets in hand and managed to increase their total to 280-6 in the final overs, thanks to runs from JP Duminy (26), Jacques Kallis (10), Ryan McLaren (12*) and Vernon Philander (14*).
