Rohit Sharma's ton in vain as India lose to South Africa

Rohit Sharma's rollicking 150-run knock went in vain as South Africa pulled off a thrilling five-run victory in the first ODI over India at the Green Park stadium in Kanpur on Sunday. Chasing 304, the Indians fell agonisingly short of the target in the last over, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

With India needing 22 off the last two overs, captain MS Dhoni failed to finish the job after Rohit (150 runs off 133 balls) got out in the 47th over. The script went horribly wrong after the right hander’s departure as India crumbled under pressure to end at 298 for seven. Rohit's eighth ton in ODIs ended in a losing cause and it came after AB de Villiers's unbeaten 104 off 73 balls that propelled South Africa to 303 for five, the highest score at this venue surpassing 294 made by the hosts in 2007. India seemed set to chase down the total until they lost the plot in the final few overs with Dhoni (31), Suresh Raina (3) and Stuart Binny (2) falling well short of expectations. Earlier, De Villers enthralled the local crowd in the first half of the game and then it was the turn of their own hero Rohit, whose strokes square off the wicket gelled beautifully with his cover drives. Back in the side, Ajinkya Rahane scored a well –made 62.