Paarl (South Africa): Sachin Tendulkar might have played a role in Brian Lara's magnificent ton which helped West Indies score an upset win against South Africa in the opening World Cup match.

It was a Tendulkar-autographed willow from which flowed the runs, it was revealed by the star West Indian batsman. "Look at the bat. See here is the signature of Sachin on the logo!" A smiling Lara told players, who had gathered to congratulate him after he scored a masterly 116 off 134 balls studded with 12 fours and two sixes in the Cape Town match on Sunday.

Lara was sure of his "little Indian friend" also getting big scores in the tournament. "It's the biggest stage for any cricketer. And I am sure Sachin too will be hungry for scoring big hundreds here," he said.

Tendulkar, on his part, was all praise for Lara. "He was out of the international arena for quite some time. But see how he came back. That says about his greatness ....(he is a) master batsman," Tendulkar told a website.

Though Tendulkar missed out on watching Lara's innings as he was busy at the nets here, he asked for Lara's mobile number so that he could congratulate him personally.

Copyright AFP 2001