Sachin Tendulkar returned to his match-winning ways on Wednesday with a warning that he was desperate to see India lift the World Cup in April.

Tendulkar, the most successful batsman in one-day history, struck his 41st century to steer India to a resounding 160-run win over the West Indies in the fourth and final match at Vadodara. "It is always great to contribute to an Indian win," said the 33-year-old after the hosts piled up 341-3 from their 50 overs and then bowled the West Indies out for 181 in 41.4 overs. Tendulkar was nominated both man of the match and the series, which began with critics gunning for his head after he had managed just 248 runs in his previous 10 matches at 24.80. "This was much needed," he said. "I was not converting decent scores into big ones, so to do it in a decisive match like this was very satisfying. I have always tried my hardest. I was not worried by what others said because I have been in this game long enough to know what I have to do." Tendulkar, who is into his 18th year on the international circuit, is the longest-serving contemporary player in the world, having made his Test debut against Pakistan in November, 1989. Besides a world record 14,728 one-day runs and 41 centuries, Tendulkar has also scored 10,668 Test runs, with 35 hundreds. Tendulkar has set his sights on playing, and doing well, in his fifth World Cup when cricket's showpiece event opens in the Caribbean on March 13. "Every cricketer dreams of doing well at the World Cup and I am no different," he said. "I hope I can help India win this one." Tendulkar showed on Wednesday he was in prime touch for the World Cup. He reached the landmark off the last ball of the innings to finish with an unbeaten 100 off 76 balls following a thrilling exhibition of power hitting by the hosts in the decisive match. Indian captain Rahul Dravid and senior pro Sourav Ganguly joined the run feast with half-centuries after West Indian captain Brian Lara elected to field in good batting conditions. Mahendra Dhoni hit an unbeaten 40 off 20 balls to help Tendulkar put on a blistering 75 runs from the last 40 deliveries. Tendulkar, who was on 89 at the end of the 48th over, rotated the strike and also helped himself to two boundaries to reach his first one-day century since making 141 against the West Indies in Malaysia in September. India will play another four-match series against Sri Lanka at home next month before heading to the Caribbean on March 1.

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