Ashwell Prince struck 78 not out to give Africa XI a measure of respectability as they were dismissed for 198 by Asia XI in the opening one-day game of the three-match Afro-Asia Cup in Centurion, on Wednesday.
South African left-hander Prince hit five fours in 113 balls to resurrect the innings after Africa had been reduced to 57 for five in the 13th over after being put in to bat.
Indian left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan took three for 37 in an eight-over opening burst to put Asia XI in early control while Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar finished with figures of two for 40.
Prince and South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, with an aggressive 42, put Africa XI on track to overhaul the 150-mark with a sixth-wicket stand of 84.
Openers AB de Villiers, with 24, and Boeta Dippenaar, 14, were the only other batsmen to reach double figures.
Africa made a brisk start, reaching 39 without loss after six overs before Zaheer and Shoaib ripped through the top-order batsmen.
Boucher hit some powerful strokes but, after he was trapped leg before wicket by Sri Lankan off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, Africa's innings fell away and they were dismissed in 44.3 overs.
The inaugural Afro-Asia Cup is a fund-raising initiative to help grassroots development of the sport in each continent.
The last two matches take place in Durban on Saturday and Sunday.
