Tendulkar-signed bat did the trick for Lara

They have been friends and rivals and here's a new twist to the tale. It was the bat signed by the ace Indian batsman with which the West Indian made that dazzling comeback hundred at Cape Town, at the expense of the Proteas.

"Look at the bat. See here is the signature of Sachin on the logo,'' said Lara after his brilliant 134-ball 116. "It's the biggest stage for any cricketer. And I am sure Sachin too will be hungry for scoring big hundreds here,'' the Caribbean sizzler said.

Tendulkar was lavish in his praise for Lara "He was out of international arena for quite some time. But see how well he came back. That says about his greatness.'' This one is a rather special relationship.