Tendulkar guides the ball through mid-wicket during his 106-ball innings

Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman to reach 15,000 one-day runs as India levelled their best of three series against South Africa in Belfast.

Tendulkar made 93 before being bowled by spinner Thandi Tshabalala as India slumped from 134-0 to 142-4.

But Yuvraj Singh (49) and Dinesh Karthik (31) put on 85 to see them home on 227-4 with six balls to spare

Yuvraj earlier took 3-36 to help restrict South Africa to 226-6, with opener Morne van Wyk making 82.

India captain Rahul Dravid praised Tendulkar's ability to motivate himself over such a long period.

"It's a phenomenal achievement - for someone who has played so long to be so consistent," he said.

"It's incredible. Not only do you need skill; you need a lot of mental strength and fortitude to do what he's done.

"To have that hunger over such a long period of time and go on scoring runs and find new challenges."

India again went into the game with depleted playing resources because of a flu bug, forcing them to give teenage seam bowler Ishant Sharma his one-day debut.

But they made a highly encouraging start after Dravid won the toss and opted to field as they reduced South Africa to 46-3.

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AB de Villiers was run out without scoring and RP Singh claimed the prized scalp of Jacques Kallis by bowling off the inside edge for two.

Herschelle Gibbs was next to go, caught off Zaheer Khan for 17, but van Wyk and Jean-Paul Duminy steadied the innings with a partnership of 85 in 19 overs.

When Duminy was caught by Dravid off Yuvraj, South Africa needed to accelerate and it was Mark Boucher who provided it.

Van Wyk departed in the 41st over, edging a ball from Yuvraj to keeper Mahendra Dhoni after hitting a six and seven fours in his second one-day half century in four appearances, but Boucher ensured the scoreboard kept ticking over as he reached fifty at a run per ball.

Andrew Hall made a valuable 17 before he was bowled by Yuvraj and Boucher was unbeaten on 55 when the innings came to a close.

India made a magnificent start in reply, thanks to the tried and trusted opening combination of Tendulkar and former skipper Sourav Ganguly.

India supporters celebrate Tendulkar's landmark achievement

Tendulkar, playing in his 387th one-day international, opened his account with a boundary and later pulled Andre Nel for the first of two sixes as they put on 100 in 23 overs.

He passed the milestone on reaching his fifty and had a 42nd century there for the taking when he tried to force Tshabalala through the off-side and played on.

By then, India had already lost Ganguly (42) and Dravid (two) in successive overs from Charl Langeveldt, who was the pick of South Africa's attack, taking 2-43.

They stumbled again when Makhaya Ntini bowled Dhoni for a fourth-ball duck, but Yuvraj and Karthik showed few signs of nerves as they ensured India kept up with the required rate.

Their running between the wickets was excellent, with Karthik only hitting one boundary, but Yuvraj was denied his half century when Kallis sent down a wide with the first delivery of the final over, which brought the game to an end.