Today's century is one of my best: Tendulkar

Colombo:

Batting ace Sachin Tendulkar rates his opportune century, which laid the foundation of India's tri-series win over Sri Lanka, as one of his best. With his masterly 138, his 44th ODI hundred, Tendulkar guided India to a massive 319 for five and Sri Lanka fell 46-run shy in their chase.

"This is one of my best innings. I will rate this up considering the conditions and the ground, the humidity," said Tendulkar, who was declared both Man of the Match and Man of the Series for his stupendous show with bat in the tournament.

Tendulkar added 95 runs with Rahul Dravid for the opening stand before adding 110 with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the second wicket.

It was a masterly knock by the veteran batsman who defied cramps in his leg to nose ahead.

Sachin said hostile conditions made batting difficult and he was happy to score at a time India needed him to perform. Veterans Rahul Dravid and Sanath Jayasuriya also did well in the tournament and Tendulkar said their success proved age was just a number.

"I think, more than age what really matters is how much you are able to give to the game," he said.

Looking ahead, Tendulkar said conditions would be better in South Africa and India would do well in the Champions Trophy there.

"In Champions Trophy, it will be different conditions but since we have played in tougher conditions here, it should not be a problem for us," he said.

Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara was upset with the defeat and felt the hosts should have capitalised on the flying start provided by openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Jayasuriya.

"Maybe our player should have capitalised on the start. We played to a plan and could have defeated India," he said. Even in the defeat Sangakkara found some positives.

"The plus point of the series is that we have now got a good middle order. It's clicking. (Chamara) Kapugedera and (Thilina) Kandamby are batting really well," he said.