Twenty-year-old test batsman Dwayne Smith fashioned what he described as his 'best innings' to leave Barbados in charge of their four-day Carib Beer International Shield cricket semi-final match against Guyana here yesterday.

By the close of another day blessed with perfect weather for cricket, a fair-sized crowd which included Prime Minister of Barbados Owen Arthur and Guyana's president Bharrat Jagdeo saw the double defending champions rally to 367-8 in reply to Guyana's 310.

Barbados start the final day with a lead of 57 runs and virtually a place in their second consecutive final. But on a track 'as flat as a bake', criticised by none other than chairman of the West Indies selection panel Sir Vivian Richards, the Bajans will be hard pressed to convert their advantage into another outright win today.

Even if Guyana goes for broke and look to score quick runs to give them an outside chance of an improbable come-from-behind win, it will be difficult for the home team to dismiss Guyana and have enough time to get a victory target.

The usually aggressive Smith, who smashed an explosive debut test century against the South Africans earlier this year, batted with maturity and discipline to reach his third first-class ton and second at the regional level in his 19th regional first-class game to hold the middle order together after Rayon Griffith removed Ryan Hinds at 155-4 in the first session.

The YMPA right-hander, hit eight fours and four sixes from 230 balls in 231 minutes of committed batting and shared in half-century partnerships with Sherwin Campbell and skipper Courtney Brown against a Guyana bowling attack which lacked venom.

Hinds, 48 overnight, got to his fifth half-century for the season but when on 56 touched a ball to the 'keeper Vishal Nagamootoo to give Guyana their only success in the first session ending the 105-run, fourth-wicket stand with Campbell.

By lunch, Barbados were 211-4 with the experienced Campbell ten away from his 13th regional first-class century and second against Guyana. Smith was with him on 33 and Barbados needed exactly 100 runs for first innings points.

Part time off-spinner Travis Dowlin has been impressive this season and made the breakthrough in the second over after lunch when Campbell, who hit five fours from 270 balls in his 357-minute knock of 90, was taken at short-leg at 215-5 to ignite hope among the Guyana fans.

Brown (16) played his favourite slog sweep to left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell and was caught by Narsingh Deonarine at deep mid-wicket at 270-6 to leave the battle for first innings points still wide open.

However, Smith kept his head and, pressured with an outside leg-stump attack from Ramnaresh Sarwan and then McGarrell, mixed caution with some delightful shots to help see Barbados to 306-6 by tea.

Ian Bradshaw, who made an unbeaten 65 when the two teams last met seven weeks ago at Kensington, was with Smith on three at tea with the job of gaining first innings points almost complete.

After the break Smith relaxed after his team had taken the lead before he was brilliantly taken at mid-off by Deonarine off leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo at 320-7.

Smith, who told reporters afterwards that he wanted to show people that he could also bat long and still score runs lingered at the crease as the umpires (Clancy Mack and Glenroy Johnson) consulted although the catch was clearly a clean one.

Guyana seemed content on going through the motions and the disunity which was apparent in the first three away games and which seemed to have disappeared during Guyana's good showing in the last three home matches, was again noticeable.

Daesrath (9-4-18-2 on the first day) was strangely not used until 3:45pm at 335-7 while there was open disagreement over field placements between Nagamootoo and his skipper.

As the Barbados tail-enders continued to defy the Guyana attack in a final session which looked more like an extended practice session, some poor umpiring and two dropped catches added to the Guyanese frustration.

Chanderpaul who has been impressive as captain this season but who lacked imagination yesterday, under pressure, floored Collins in Daesrath's first over while Nagamootoo also put down a catch off the medium-pacer.

Collins was given not out on three when a ball from Nagamootoo appeared to come off the edge of his bat on it's way to the 'keeper before he skied a ball miles into the air for Chanderpaul to take at short cover at 364-8 just before the close of a disappointing day for the Guyanese.

Nagamootoo had 3-97 while Daesrath, who only bowled four overs yesterday despite being fully fit, has so far picked up 2-28.

Bradshaw is not out on 33 and Cory Collymore unbeaten on two and they will hope to as Barbados coach Hendy Springer puts it "bat Guyana completely out of the game."

Another injury added to Guyana's woes yesterday when Sewnarine Chattergoon, just recovered from a hard hit to the back of his neck while fielding on Friday, dived and made a superb stop at mid-off only to injure his shoulder.

According to the Guyana Manager Carl Moore, Chattergtoon dislocated his shoulder when he dived.

"This was put back in place at the ground and Chattergoon is now suffering from torn ligaments in his left arm and has been ruled out of the rest of this game," Moore said.

Moore said that a Guyana win at this point looks highly unlikely and informed that his team will be trying their best not to lose the game outright and become the first team this season to escape an outright defeat at the hands of the Bajans, hunting their 20th first-class title.

Meanwhile, the Guyana players attended the Guyana Trade Expo on Friday evening here in Barbados and mingled with the massive turn out of Guyanese nationals and several non-Guyanese who live here and attended the opening day of the three-day event, organised by the Guyana GO-INVEST.