The visitors led at the break after Elizer Mayenda tapped home from close range following a Habib Diara effort that was saved into his path by Djordje Petrovic.
Introduced at the interval, Brazilian Evanilson finished off his shoulder from a pinpoint Marcus Tavernier cross midway through the second half.
Both sides had opportunities in a game that became messy at times, but neither could find the decisive goal as Bournemouth’s unbeaten run continued.
Tavernier and David Brooks returned to the starting lineup as Andoni Iraola made two changes, and Evanilson and Amine Adli dropped to the bench.
Halftime substitute Evanilson got the equaliser. (Image: Richard Crease)
The visitors made the brighter start under the February sunshine at Dean Court.
Noah Sadiki tested Djordje Petrovic with a low effort that the Serbian got down to palm away, before a loud penalty shout was waved away after Enzo Le Fee went down under the challenge of Alex Jimenez.
Referee Jarred Gillett and VAR James Bell deemed there was not enough contact and the appeals were waved away.
While the Cherries had a couple of forays forward, they weren’t able to create much in the opening exchanges and the Black Cats took the lead with 18 minutes on the clock.
James Hill (Image: Richard Crease)
Dan Ballard slid a good ball through for Habib Diara, who powered at goal and Petrovic saved into the path of Mayenda, who tapped home for an easy finish.
Bournemouth sought a response and went close after a good run from Jimenez, as he beat his man and delivered a low ball to the back post, but Lutsharel Geertruida slid in to deny Brooks a certain goal.
Robin Roefs made an excellent save with his legs to deny Alex Scott after the keeper spilled a Tavernier effort to the English midfielder.
The Sunderland keeper then got away with another error as he was harried by Junior Kroupi, with both players going down but referee Gillett ruling that the Frenchman had fouled Roefs.
Tavernier tested the Dutch stopper before Tyler Adams was fouled going for the follow up, and the Englishman curled the free kick around the wall but Roefs saved well.
Adrien Truffert. (Image: Richard Crease)
Le Fee had a sight of goal from range that Marcos Senesi headed over, before a good chance for the Cherries in first half stoppage time.
The energetic Jimenez carried the ball into Sunderland territory and played the ball to the overlapping Rayan, but Kroupi shot over from the Brazilian’s cut back as the hosts trailed at the break.
Iraola brought on Evanilson for Brooks for the second half, and the visitors had a good opportunity to double their lead early on but Diarra shot too close to Petrovic when one-on-one and the Serbian saved well.
Evanilson (Image: Richard Crease)
Adams survived a VAR check for foul play after he was fouled into challenging Granit Xhaka, but a booking was deemed sufficient as his studs went into the Swiss midfielder’s foot.
The American was then replaced by Ryan Christie shortly before the Cherries drew themselves level in the 63rd minute.
Quick thinking from Scott on halfway to take a free kick quickly picked out Tavernier on the left, and the Englishman delivered a pinpoint cross for Evanilson to turn home at the back post.
The goal was given after a short VAR check for a handball from the Brazilian and the Cherries went after a second.
Jimenez, Tavernier and Scott all shot wide for the hosts, before Kroupi and Tavernier were replaced by Enes Unal and Adli in the final ten minutes of the game.
Evanilson scored his sixth of the season. (Image: Richard Crease)
Sunderland had the ball in the back of the net but Geertruida was offside, before Evanilson was forced off through injury, replaced by Alex Toth.
Unal saw a shot blocked from close range after a scramble in the box as the game became scrappy and entered eight added minutes.
Christie saw a shot blocked behind from range, before Senesi went down after an elbow in the jaw from Roefs at a corner that was cleared.
Rayan shot powerfully towards goal as the game went past 100 minutes but Omar Alderete blocked it just wide of the bottom corner for a corner.
The Cherries couldn’t create a final chance from the corner and the spoils were shared at Dean Court to extend the side’s unbeaten run to eight games.
AFC Bournemouth: 1, D. Petrovic; 3, A. Truffert; 5, M. Senesi; 23, J. Hill; 20, A. Jimenez; 12, T. Adams (booked, 58’)(Christie 62’ (booked 90’)); 8, A. Scott (booked, 90+5’); 7, D. Brooks (c)(Evanilson 46’(Toth 85’(booked, 86’))); 16, M. Tavernier (Adli 81’); 37, Rayan; 22, J. Kroupi (Unal 81’).
Sunderland: 22, R. Roefs (booked, 74’); 32, T. Hume; 15, O. Alderete; 5, D. Ballard; 6, L. Geertruida; 27, N. Sadiki (booked, 33’); 34, G. Xhaka (c)(Angulo 76’); 19, H. Diarra; 28, E. Le Fée; 12, Eliezer Mayenda (Isidor 90+6’); 7, C. Talbi (Traore 70’).