The master batsman crafted an unbeaten 117, reaching the boundary 10 times, as India easily overhauled Australia's 8-239. It gives the tourists a 1-0 lead over Australia in the best-of-three finals.
The hosts must now win in Brisbane on Tuesday to send the series to a decider.
Tendulkar was struck on the shoulder by a Brett Lee beam ball on 98 before two singles took him to three figures.
The veteran batsman punched the air in delight as the capacity crowd rose to its feet to acknowledge Tendulkar's breakthrough ton in his 39th one-day appearance in Australia.
The very next ball Rohit Sharma's magnificent knock came to an end on 66 when his off stump was rocked back by James Hopes (2-42)
Skipper MS Dhoni (15 not out) joined Tendulkar and saw India home with more than four overs to spare.
It was the 123-run fourth wicket alliance between Sharma and his boyhood hero Tendulkar which veered the match India's way.
The visitors lost early wickets, slumping to 3-87, before Tendulkar and Sharma slowly loosened Australia's grip on the game.
The pair didn't resort to big hitting, patiently picking the bowling off and staying ahead of the run rate.
Tendulkar's greatest concern early in the innings was the lack of fight at the other end, with wickets falling at regular intervals.
Opener Robin Uthappa (17) helped put on 50 for the first wicket before he was out to a terrific Michael Hussey catch from the bowling of Hopes.
Running at full pace and diving forward from deep square leg, Hussey picked up the ball
centimetres from the ground, jumping to his feet and celebrating as if he'd scored the winning goal in an FA Cup final.India slid further when the in-form Gautam Gambhir (three) was run out after going to sleep just six runs later.
Tendulkar called his team-mate through for a second run but Mitchell Johnson at third man, sensing Gambhir was slow to react, threw brilliantly to the non-striker's end.
Hopes gathered and threw down the stumps from a few metres away with the Indian No.3 well short of his ground.
Yuvraj Singh again looked in no man's land, limping to 10 before Brad Hogg (1-38) went right through him with a flat, quick delivery which crashed into off stump.
But Tendulkar found an ally in Sharma and their partnership proved the match winner.
Earlier, a Matthew Hayden half-century and cameos from Andrew Symonds (31), Hussey (45), Hogg (23 not out) and Brett Lee (17) lifted the home side to a respectable tally after it had been 3-24 early.
Source: Sportal
Ditulis
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Sunday, March 2, 2008
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Australia,
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India,
Little Master,
One Day Internation,
Sachin Tendulkar
