Nottingham, June 18: One team has been on a roll while the other has been fearless, flexing muscle at the high and mighty, often laying them low. Sparks are bound to fly as Sri Lanka, unbeaten in the tournament so far, clash with the West Indies in the second semifinal of the World Twenty20 championship at The Oval in London on Friday.

Both teams have some big hitters in the side and that ensures a run-feast. West Indies captain Chris Gayle and Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya have been in good form and have the top-two scores for the tournament. While Gayle smashed 88 to deliver a killer blow to the Australians which eventually led to their ouster from the tournament, Jayasuriya’s 55-ball 81 came against the West Indies in the group stage.

The two explosive batsmen, who can single-handedly turn the game, would be vital for their respective teams. The last time the two sides met, Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan were involved in a massive stand of 124 runs for the opening wicket, the second best of the tournament behind the 133 Gayle and Andre Fletcher raised for the West Indies against Australia.

That’s not all. Both teams are loaded with star power. Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons and Fidel Edwards are names that can send shivers down the spines of opponents and they are equally split into two teams.

Sangakkara and Jayawardena have been in tremendous touch and have played the seniors’ roles to perfection, keeping their cool in tight situations.

With players like Jehan Mubarak, Chamara Silva and Angelo Matthews in the ranks, the Lankans bat deep.

However, they would do well to remember that fast bowler Fidel Edwards has been breathing fire in the tournament and could wreak havoc if he recovers in time from a back injury. His opening partner Jerome Taylor too has been up there, and with Kieron Pollard, Bravo, Simmons and Suleiman Benn, captain Gayle has enough options in the bowling department. Lanka, on the other hand, have a searing pace spearhead in Lasith Malinga, who has been well-supported by Angelo Matthews.

Lankans also have two of the best spinners in Muralitharan and Mendis and captain Sangakkara will be aiming to tie down the free-flowing West Indians using the two tricky customers. Whether the West Indies break free from the spin web will be known by Friday night.