Shaun Pollock took three wickets in an over to spark Asia's slide and Dale Steyn completed an unlikely two-run win for Africa when he bowled Ashish Nehra in the 48th over on Wednesday in the first Afro-Asian Cup limited-overs international.
Asia was in command after bowling Africa out for 198 and then racing to 50 without loss.
But Pollock changed the course of the match in six balls, removing Virender Sehwag (21), Yusuf Youhana (1) and Bangladesh's Mohammad Ashraful (0) in six balls as Asia slipped to 52 for three.
Asia was coasting at 193 for eight in the 47th over before No. 10 Shoaib Akhtar was dismissed for 15.
The Asian XI needed only three runs in three overs when rookie Steyn took out Nehra's middle stump on the first ball of the 48th over to seal an African win.
The three-match series finishes with back-to-back matches tomorrow and Sunday in Durban.
New Zealand, Zimbabwe
Shane Bond completed a 10-wicket haul on Wednesday as New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by an innings and 46 runs inside three days in the second cricket Test.
Bond, returning in this series after two years on the sidelines with back problems, took 4-48 as Zimbabwe was dismissed for 207 in its second innings, giving him his first 10-wicket match haul in Tests.
The New Zealand paceman took 6-51 in the first innings, when Zimbabwe was skittled for 231.
New Zealand, which won the first Test by an innings and 294 runs in Harare last week, resumed Wednesday at 454 for seven and was all out for 484, a first-innings lead of 253 runs.
Zimbabwe was out in 61.1 overs, with only some defiant batting from Brendan Taylor and Blessing Mahwire delaying the inevitable.
New Zealand will remain in Zimbabwe for a limited-overs series against the hosts and India.
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