One key component to Bermuda?s Intercontinental Cup success in Toronto was the outstanding batting contribution of Clay Smith who played a real skipper?s innings in all three of his visits to the crease against Canada and Cayman Islands.

On each occasion, Smith rescued his team from shaky starts and consolidated the innings by featuring in fruitful partnerships all the while adding to an ever-growing impressive list of personal achievements in the two?year-old three-day competition.

After disposing of Canada and then Cayman Islands, Smith and his supporting cast are now Namibia-bound where they will take on Kenya in the competition?s semi-finals in October on the African continent.

Smith blasted 138 on day two to set the tone for yesterday?s crushing win, and scored 52 and 45 against Canada ? his second half-century against the host country in as many years.

?From a personal standpoint I am more than pleased because people were questioning me in terms of my fitness and things of that nature,? a relaxed Smith told

?I wanted to prove to myself and the whole of Bermuda that I am capable of getting the job done.

?But overall it?s not about Clay Smith . . . it?s about team and overall I thought we did a tremendous job here in Canada as a team.? Smith singled out praise for fellow centurions Janeiro Tucker (123 against Canada) and Irving Romaine (111 against Cayman Islands) along with the consistent Dean Minors who belted two crucial half centuries (66 and 74).

?Irving, Janeiro, Dean and myself played some crucial roles where we knew we had to get stuck in and get a respectable total,? Smith continued.

?But I always seem to thrive when batting under these conditions. It?s basically what you play cricket for, to get into tough situations and being able to overcome them.?

Smith acknowledged his team?s overall ?mental? toughness for helping to carry the side to victory.

?I think this team displayed tremendous character, especially against Canada when we were down by 80 runs but still were able to pull out a victory,? he said. ?Everybody chipped in over the course of the tournament and I really take my hat off because this team grew in stature day by day.

?I think over the last few months we have made believers out of a lot of people and this victory will only help encourage others to believe.?