India lost to South Africa in their opening match of Emerging Players cricket tournament on Tuesday.

India, deciding to field, restricted South Africa to 214 for nine in 50 overs, thanks to a six-wicket haul of seamer Sudeep Tyagi (6-37) before stumbling to 204 all out in 47.4 overs.

South Africa's Heino Kuhn (46) and Daryn Smit (45) arrested the rot after their side were reduced to 32 for five. Later C.J.D. De Villiers with an unbeaten 39 steered the Proteas to a defendable total.

In reply, India got off to an ominous start, struggling at 37 for three. Wriddhiman Saha (47), Abhishek Nayyar (33) and Subramaniam Badrinath (32) tried to stabilise the innings but their effort fell short at the end.

India next play Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) at the Peter Burge Oval in Brisbane on Thursday.