When the West Indies ruled supreme over the cricket world, watching a match in the Caribbean was not too different from attending a party - there was merry-making, loud raucous fans, freely flowing spirits and most importantly a lot of wins.
The only team that has truly encapsulated that Caribbean spirit are the Sri Lankans. Their fans are the ones having a party, making music, and if the alcohol is lacking, it is more than made up for by the cricket on display.
The West Indies once produced maverick geniuses - men who didn't conform to the norm of correct cricketing shots or actions. It is the Sri Lankans who are at the vanguard of the movement now - from the carom ball to the doosra to the shot that is being called 'the Dilshan'.
It makes for an intriguing match-up when the two sides meet for the second semifinals of the World Twenty20 Championships.
Both sides were in the same group, and their previous meeting resulted in a 15 run win for Sri Lanka in a high-scoring match. However, West Indies were without Chris Gayle.
Sri Lanka has progressed undefeated through the tournament, and beaten some quality teams. Their scalps include Australia, Pakistan and New Zealand - all of whom were beaten convincingly. With their formidable bowling, they are confident of winning every match, even if the batsmen fail to do the job. However, the batting has never failed collectively so far, with someone always playing a good hand to bail the team out of troubled waters. Dilshan has been the stand-out performer, and Sangakkara, Jayawardene and Jayasuriya have all chipped in.
The West Indies have shed their tag of a one-man army, with the rise of Dwayne Bravo and Lendl Simmons to back up Chris Gayle. Their chances have been dealt a blow, however, with Fidel Edwards' injury and likely absence. Edwards, Taylor and Bravo had formed a good partnership with the ball, and though Edwards can be erratic, he would have been a potent weapon if fit. Apart from Sri Lanka, their only other loss has been to South Africa, and they have beaten some good teams in England, Australia and India.
The winner of the match will play the mercurial Paksitan team in the finals. It seems fitting that two sides brimming with unorthodox talent should compete to face the most unpredictable team in world cricket.
Numbers Game:
4 - The number of batsmen from both teams combined who are in the list of the top 10 run-getters in the tournament. Dilshan, Jayawardene, Bravo and Simmons are the batsmen.
Soundbytes:
"I'm comfortable with what I'm bowling. No batsman has figured me out yet." - Ajantha Mendis
"He's the sort of bowler who can actually win you games and pick up crucial wickets at crucial times. Sometimes he can go for runs, but he's a wicket-taker and can change games. He'd be missed, because he was missed for the last game even though we won." - Chris Gayle on Fidel Edwards absence.
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