TT, Nevis in Twenty/20 semi-final

They pose a big danger to the favoured Trinidad and Tobago and can prove Giant Killers as the teams vie for a place in Sunday’s final and the US$1 million winner’s prize money. Runners-up get US$500,000.

The Nevis batting is fearless and calculated. They have class and muscle and they are most willing to put their foot on the accelerator and keep it there. They are a dangerous side that has emerged as the deadly dark horse of the tournament.

Their batting is multi-faceted but their bowling centres around 39-year-old pacer John “The Dentist” Maynard who has bowled with restrictive vitality throughout the preliminary rounds.

Nevis destroyed their countrymen St Kitts then put away home team Antigua to romp into the semis. They own the record for the highest total of the tournament so far — 213 for three wickets — and the highest individual score —Tonito Willett’s 86 not out. Their top order is an almost perfect combination of muscle and class. They have a bullying ball-hitter in Shervin Woodley who is the tournament’s highest scorer (105 runs) and the tournament’s biggest revelation Keiron Powell, an effortless striker of the ball who has sent shivers through the bones of cricket aficionados with his timing, fluidity and undisputable classy strokeplay.

But the Nevisian the top order must click and fire for them to stand a chance.

Their batting is their clear strength since in their bowling, Maynard and spinner Warrington Phillip apart, can be found wanting.

Trinidad and Tobago has two rookie openers at the top but they have taken on and blunted the much vaunted Barbadian pace bowling attack and getting over Maynard and company will be significantly less a task.

William Perkins especially, like Powell of Nevis, along with his partner Mario Belcon have shown the regional audience that the cupboard of West Indies cricket is nowhere close to being bare.

TT has been using leg-spinner Samuel Badree as their opening bowler and he has proved a success and they are expected to continue with him as new ball partner to pacer Merv Dillon.

Seamer Rayad Emrit, the man who Ganga turns to when he needs a big wicket will need to be in top shape as will allrounder Keiron Pollard and spinner Nicholas Ramjass.