On Thursday night when they took on traditional regional power house Guyana they did not just show up, they turned up, confident and composed. After losing the toss and inserting Grenada, Guyana must have felt they were playing Jamaica all over again as the openers went on a rampage accumulating the highest opening wicket partnership (86) in the tournament.

Guyanese became instantly jittery until it took the immense experience of the Mahendra Nagamootoo contained them to a total below what was initially projected. Nevertheless their 158 for 8 was several runs beyond what the pundits reasoned they were capable of getting against an experienced spin-based Guyanese attack.

To see several of their young crop of players sprawled on the outfield in uncontrollable tears after they lost was instructive. It demonstrated that their pride was injured. Their pride was injured because they believed that they could overcome Guyana. They did not simply feel that showing up and competing in the semi-final was enough. They felt that they could have gone on further and it was not an empty belief. Their performance showed that they are a worthy side.

In uncertain weather they played smarter cricket than St Vincent and the Grenadines to get past them and into the semis. Last night they did not feel that Guyana must simply romp home but they fought for every run, bowling with pace and guile and never letting up as they defended their total though Guyana eventually prevailed.