Erwee, who lost fellow opener Pieter Malan for a duck, struck eight fours during his 180-ball knock.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, South Africa A lost inspirational captain Pieter Malan for a duck and Zubayr Hamza (16) departed shortly after to leave the hosts on 44-2.
Erwee teamed up with Tony de Zorzi (58) for a 111-run partnership for the third wicket, before substitute fielder Upendra Yadav ran out the latter shortly after reaching his ninth first-class fifty.
After raising his bat for half-century No 35 in the red-ball format, Erwee soon became the second of three victims to fall to India A’s leading bowler, Navdeep Saini (3-42). The fast bowler then removed Senuran Muthusamy for a duck with the home side on 187-5.
Khaya Zondo (56) and Sinethemba Qeshile (22) brought up a 51-run stand for the sixth wicket, with the former dispatching eight fours and one six on his way to a fifty.
Both batters fell late on, leaving Marco Jansen (4*) and Migael Pretorius (1*) at the crease overnight.
Saurabh Kumar (2-52) and Deepak Chahar (1-35) were the other wicket-takers for India A on day one.
