Andile Mogakane and Matthew Boast starred with bat and ball to help SA Emerging to a series-levelling 23-run win over Zimbabwe Emerging in the second one-day match in Pretoria on Tuesday.

EP Warriors all-rounder Mogakane top-scored for the hosts with 70 off 60 balls (seven fours, two sixes) and his Northerns Titans counterpart, Boast, struck an unbeaten 51 off 63 balls (four fours, one six) as the hosts amassed 295-9 in their 50 overs.

This after the tourists won the toss and opted to bowl first at the Groenkloof Oval in what was game two of their five-match series.

Then in reply, the Zimbabweans were restricted to 272 all out in 43.2 overs – Boast finishing with 3-68, Liam Alder ending as the pick of the bowlers with 3-35, Nealan van Heerden bagging 2-65 and Mogakane sending down a miserly 0-35.

It was the perfect response from the South Africans after they lost the first game by six wickets on Sunday.

But they had to work hard after a poor start on Tuesday, which saw them lose Jordan Hermann (nine), Valentine Kitime (seven) and Daniel Smith (one) all cheaply.

Joshua Richards (43) and captain Mitchell van Buuren (42) did most of the early repair work, although the home side still found themselves just before the halfway point on 120-5.

It was then over to Mogakane and Boast, who attacked during the second half of the innings, and together with Musa Twala (28) helped their side set a strong 296 for victory.

Nealan van Heerden and Boast landed two early blows in the first four overs leaving the visitors on 24-2, before Wesley Madhevere plundered 55 off 28 balls (10 fours, two sixes) to keep his side in the hunt.

Although he was removed by Nealan van Heerden, captain Roy Kia (33) and Clive Madande (40) ensured that Zimbabwe were ahead of the run-rate.

But the South Africans kept chipping away, and despite Brandon Mavuta smashing an attacking 66 off 59 balls (11 fours), the away side were bowled out with nearly five overs to go.