One more day, one more hundred for Sachin Tendulkar. But this one was different.

As he turned Graeme Swann to fine-leg for four, the 35-year-old, with 19 years of Test cricket and 40 hundreds behind him, could not hold on to his trademark stoicism. As non-striker Yuvraj Singh lifted him in the air, he pumped his fists and spread his arms wide, celebrating like he has rarely done in the past.

The man who holds practically every batting record had never had a fourth-innings victory come off his bat — with him getting an unbeaten three-figure masterpiece along the way. For years, critics had attached a “not a Test-match winner” rider to his peerless accomplishments. On Monday, in putting India 1-0 ahead in the series, Tendulkar closed that argument forever.

To the faces of a billion people mourning the victims of the terrorist attack on Mumbai, this afternoon brought a smile, as India chased down the highest-ever target on a fifth-day pitch in Asia, and the fourth-highest of all time. Kevin Pieterson understood the mood: “Who can write Sachin Tendulkar’s script any better? The man from Mumbai came in and scored a sensational hundred today. He batted like a superstar,” said the losing captain.

Tendulkar dedicated his effort —and his team’s victory — to Mumbai. “My heart goes out to those who went through that terrible time and to those who lost near and dear ones in the terror attacks,” he said. “What happened in Mumbai was extremely unfortunate. It was a terrible loss that will stay with all of us in our hearts. I don’t think the Indian victory or me scoring a century would make people who lost their near and dear ones feel better.

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