Adelaide, January 24:

Indian superstar Sachin Tendulkar posted a century to lift his side towards a challenging total on the first day of the fourth and final Test against Australia today.

Tendulkar shook off a personal hoodoo at Adelaide Oval with his 39th Test hundred to boost India’s hopes of squaring the series. India were 309-5 at stumps, with Tendulkar on 124 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni six.

India are 2-1 down in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series but have momentum after winning in Perth.

The “master blaster” went into the match with just 122 runs at 20.33 in his three previous visits to Adelaide Oval, but his intent was clear the moment he replaced Rahul Dravid (18). He faced 133 balls and hit nine fours and three sixes.

Tendulkar has 451 runs in the series at 90.20 and is now five international centuries clear of retired duo Sunil Gavaskar and Brian Lara, with Australian captain Ricky Ponting (33)on the all-time list.

Tendulkar and VVS Laxman steadied the innings after coming together at 156-4, adding 126 runs.

Laxman enjoyed some extraordinary fortune on 37, with wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist dropping a sitter off Brett Lee. However, Lee (2-62) and Gilchrist got their man on 51.

Virender Sehwag made a breezy 63 at the top of the order before being caught behind off Lee. He initially found himself partnered by all-rounder Irfan Pathan. Pathan put on 34 for the first wicket with Sehwag.