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Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar was happy but hardly overjoyed after his stupendous 146 against Kenya at Boland Park in Paarl on Wednesday. "This was an important game for us. But the next one is going to be even more important," said Tendulkar in an obvious reference to the final scheduled between India and South Africa at Kingsmead, Durban on Friday.

Both Tendulkar and Indian captain Sourav Ganguly smashed individual hundreds and put on 258 runs for the first wicket, a new world-record. They also went past the 5150 aggregate of Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge. Excerpts from an interview with the little master after his match-winning innings for India which was his 31st one-day hundred in his 279th game.

Q: You must be pleased after your knock today?

A: It is always nice to be among the runs. I really wanted to make a contribution today. This was an important game for us. Of course, the next one is going to be even more important.

Q: It seemed that you and Ganguly had taken the defeat against Kenya by 70 runs last week to heart...

A: We couldn't play to our potential at Port Elizabeth that really hurt us badly. We wanted to come back and win this game convincingly.

Q: You didn't seem very happy after getting out at 146 to a rank full- toss?

A: Nobody likes getting out. I too wasn't too happy but then it is all part of the game.

Q: Were you aware you needed 12 runs going into today's game to overtake the record of West Indians Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge?

A: I didn't know as such that we needed 12 runs for the record but I was aware we were close to this landmark.

Q: Why do you think you and Ganguly have had great success as one-day openers for India. Is it because you are a right-left combination?

A: Well, I think the important thing is we are both hungry for runs. That is important. We are both not satisfied with what we have achieved. We are still hungry.

Q: Anything else which you would like to point out about your association?

A: I think we have developed a good understanding over a period of time. But for us, rather than our individual and combined performances, it is more important that the team wins.

Q: Did you, at any stage, think you could have a double century from this game?

A: I never thought about a double century. I just wanted to bat through the 50 overs and achieve the best we could.

Q: There was a strong breeze blowing across the ground. Was that the sole reason why you seemed to try and avoid hitting over the top?

A: There was a strong breeze and it was a little difficult to clear from one end but at the other end, one could do so and play (lofted strokes).

Q: It seemed both you and Ganguly wanted to bat through the Indian innings?

A: From the 25th over, we knew it was going to be a 300-plus total. None of us wanted to get out. We wanted to hang around for as long as possible.

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