Cuttack: A brilliant century by Rohit Sharma helped India Red to score a much needed five-wicket victory over India Green in the NKP Salve Challengers Series match.

Though wickets kept on falling at the other end, Rohit Sharma kept his head cool. The Mumbai batsman scored 117 runs off just 120 balls (13 fours and 2 sixes). Opening batsman M Vijay also did well notching up 59-ball 45.

Earlier, batting first, India Green set a daunting target of 261 with Naman Ojha's scoring a well made 96 runs. Ojha and Dhawan (45) added 102 runs for the for the opening wicket and then Ojha and Suresh Raina (58) took India Green to a strong position. But the team lost its momentum in the last overs by losing seven wickets just for 63 runs.

However, India Green played with a game plan to compile a healthy total of 260 for nine in 50 overs.

Scores in brief:
India Green: 260/9 in 50 overs,  N Ojha 96, Raina 58, Dhawan 45, Chawla 3/50.
India Red: 263/5 in 48.5 overs, Rohit 117*, Vijay 45, MS Gony 2/52.
Result: India Red won by 1 wicket.
Man of the Match: Rohit Sharma (India Red).