Muttiah Muralitharan has hailed Brian Lara as his toughest opponent on the eve of Sri Lanka's World Cup match against the West Indies.

"I think Lara is the key. He played against me in Sri Lanka and he did very well," the off-spinner said on Thursday.

"I think, of all the batsmen in the world, he plays my bowling better than anyone else, including Sachin Tendulkar.

"His eyesight and hand co-ordination is very good and he's able to adjust very quickly to very good deliveries."

Friday's match is hugely important to both sides as they try to qualify from Group B. Both teams are among five in the group who can still reach the Super Six stage.

Lara had a staggering 2001 tour to Sri Lanka, hitting a century in the first Test before scoring 221 and 130 in the third, becoming the first player for almost three decades to make a century and double century in the same Test but still lose. He averaged 114.66 for the series, won 3-0 by Sri Lanka.