India held their nerve in a tense finish to clinch a narrow one-run victory over South Africa in Jaipur and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

India, asked to bat first, began well with Virender Sehwag (46) and Dinesh Karthik (44) laying a solid foundation, while Suresh Raina (58) helped consolidate with his 15th ODI half-century as India made 298 for nine.

Jacques Kallis, who had starred with a three-wicket haul earlier, gave chase with a spirited 89, but his dismissal in the 43rd over hampered South Africa's hopes.

Wayne Parnell (49 off 47 deliveries) and Dale Steyn (35 from 19) pushed India to the brink with a 65-run stand for the ninth wicket in just over six overs, but the visitors eventually fell narrowly short.

India lost Sachin Tendulkar (four) early and thereafter were pegged back by the loss of a wicket every time they showed signs of dominating South Africa's attack.

Following Tendulkar's dismissal, India rebuilt through Sehwag and Karthik, the latter providing impetus with a stroke-filled stay.

Karthik hammered Parnell for three boundaries in an over before Sehwag joined in by hitting Albie Morkel for two fours and a towering six.

That association yielded 79, before South Africa, thoroughly professional in the field right through, had Sehwag run out, the batsman backing up too far as a drive from Karthik ricocheted off the stumps at the non-striker's end , brushing Charl Langeveldt's fingertips along the way.

Langeveldt, a late addition to the South Africa squad, then removed Karthik, luring him with a short ball, while Mahendra Singh Dhoni (26), batting up the order, offered flashiness, but little substance in a brief stay.

Virat Kohli (31) and Raina again lifted the hosts with a 66-run stand, but just when the two appeared to have the measure of South Africa's bowlers, Kohli departed and India lost their way again.

Yusuf Pathan (18) flattered to deceive as he fell just after the batting powerplay was called, India still managing a decent 48 from those five overs.

But Raina's demise in the first over immediately after the field was pushed back and Ravindra Jadeja's (22) dismissal shortly after saw the home side finish about 30 runs short of what they would have wanted.

Herschelle Gibbs (27) and Loots Bosman (29) blazed away at the start of South Africa's reply, the openers hammering India's bowlers around the park as they added 58 in fairly quick time.

Bosman, however, was bowled by Praveen Kumar and Jadeja made further inroads by snaring Gibbs in his second over, the opener skying to Kohli at long-off.

AB de Villiers (25) had shown intent and purpose, adding 45 with Kallis for the third wicket, but his innings was ended by Jadeja, the left-arm spinner securing his second victim with a delivery that kept low.

The wheels then came off South Africa's chase as the middle-order fell apart and Kallis too eventually fell in the 43rd over - bowled by Sreesanth.

South Africa needed 74 to win from seven overs at that stage, but Parnell and Steyn's astounding partnership took the game down to the wire.

South Africa needed only 10 from the last over and Praveen bowled Steyn with the second ball, but conceded five from the next three leaving South Africa with four to win from the last ball.

A wide added to the drama, but Parnell was run out off the last delivery while attempting a second run as India emerged winners.