Known more for his swashbuckling batting that brought him a memorable Test hundred on debut against South Africa last month, Smith knuckled down for close to four hours to score 114 that paved the way for Barbados to reach 367 for eight, replying to Guyana’s first innings total of 310, when stumps were drawn on the third day.

Following his maiden Test hundred, there were still many critics in his native Barbados that felt he was still not the genuine article. He admittedly knew of their concerns and proposed to settle the matter with a hundred in which he showed great restraint and excellent shot selection.

Along the way, he still brought out the long handle to smash seven fours and four sixes from 230 balls before he was dismissed shortly after the tea break, after he and Ian Bradshaw had secured the lead with a stand of 50 for the seventh wicket as Barbados subsided to 270 for six.

Barring an unforeseen twist of fate on the last day, unbeaten Barbados have essentially secured their place in the final to be contested in Barbados from March 25 to 28 after gaining the lead. It will give them a chance to seek a second first-class double of regional Cup and International Challenge Trophy in as many seasons.

Smith, however, cannot take all the credit for Barbados’ position of strength. Sherwin Campbell, the former West Indies vice-captain, played a significant role with a resolute 91 and left-hander Ryan Hinds also batted with confidence for 56.

The two shared a 105-run, fourth-wicket partnership that had its genesis on the previous evening after the repeat Carib Beer Cup champions had stumbled to 50 for three about 40 minutes before tea.

The stand between Campbell and Hinds was followed by three successive half-century partnerships that effectively stole the match away from the Guyanese, whose captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul, employed some questionable tactics that literally allowed the Barbadians slowly, but surely work their way up to the target.

Chanderpaul set defensive fields from early, chose to start the day with Ramnaresh Sarwan’s leg-spin, instructed his bowlers to concentrate on a leg-stump line of attack, particularly for the right-handed batsmen, and strangely, held back Damodar Daesrath, whose accurate medium-fast bowling had accounted for two of three Barbadian batsmen the previous evening, until after the home team had achieved their objective.

The Barbadians bided their time and gradually chipped away at Guyana’s total, although the visitors had early success after the home team continued from their bedtime position of 138 for three.

Hinds, whose 161-ball innings lasted just over three hours and contained five fours, was caught behind down the leg-side to leave Barbados on 155 for four after 15 minutes. Smith and Campbell then batted through the remainder of the morning period to carry the Barbadians to 211 for four at lunch.

After the interval, Campbell was dismissed in the second over caught at forward short leg off Travis Dowlin after batting nearly six hours, facing 270 balls and striking five fours. He and Smith added 60 for the fifth wicket.

Courtney Browne entered and Chanderpaul immediately went on the defensive. The Barbados captain had a close shave when, on zero, Neil McGarrell missed him off Dowlin.

After Smith, on 43, just cleared Chanderpaul with a pull shot off McGarrell, he and Browne settled down to add 55 for the sixth wicket, but the Barbados captain gave his hand away when he was caught at deep mid-wicket off McGarrell for 16 to bring a sense of uneasiness into the crowd, if not the Barbados dressing room.

After all, Bradshaw, who was unbeaten on 33 at the close, was going out into the middle and has some strong pretensions of being capable with the bat. He shepherded Smith through to his hundred after the young batsmen got a bid edgy in the 70s and they took Barbados into the black.

Smith was just beginning to loose the shackles when he was caught at long off off Mahendra Nagamootoo lofting a flatter, faster delivery and he retreated to the sanctity of the Sir Garfield Sobers Pavilion to a standing ovation from a crowd that included Barbados Prime Minister, Owen Arthur, and chairman of the West Indies selectors, Sir Vivian Richards.

In a monotonous final period, they saw Bradshaw and Pedro Collins continue to frustrate the Guyanese with a stand of 44 for the eighth wicket before Collins was caught at cover to give Nagamootoo the last of his three wickets for 97 runs from 42 overs that made him the most successful bowler for the visitors.

GUYANA 1st innings 310 (R. Sarwan 121; P. Collins 4-85)

BARBADOS 1st innings (o/n 138 for three)

K. Wilkinson lbw b Daesrath 15

M. Nurse c wkpr V. Nagamootoo b Daesrath 4

S. Campbell c Ramdass b Dowlin 91

F. Reifer b M. Nagamootoo 9

R. Hinds c wkpr V. Nagamootoo b Griffith 56

D. Smith c Deonarine b M. Nagamootoo 114

C. Browne c Deonarine b McGarrell 16

I. Bradshaw not out 33

P. Collins c Chanderpaul b M. Nagamootoo 15

C. Collymore not out 2

Extras: (b-5, w-1, nb-6) 12

Total: (8 wkts) 367

Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-29, 3-50, 4-155, 5-215, 6-270, 7-320, 8-364.