Jermaine Lannaman, Star Writer

Jamaica's coach Gus Logie says he is looking forward to Marlon Samuels making another valuable contribution in today's semi-finals of the ongoing Caribbean Twenty20 tournament in Barbados.

The stroke-playing right-hander, who is making a return to regional cricket after a two year absence, is so far the leading run getter in the tournament, and with Jamaica to face (either Barbados or Trinidad and Tobago - to be decided) in today's semi-final - Logie says he hopes he will turn up again.

"Samuels must be given credit for the way he is playing thus far. He has been a revelation for us at the tournament, and the hope is that he can continue in the semi-finals and final, should we reach that far," said Logie.

In his four matches to date, Samuels has notched up scores of 42, 80 not out, 45 not out, and 53.

However, it is not just his figures that has many cricket fans talking, but the way in which he has been scoring, dancing down the wicket to hit fours and sixes, and notching up consistent strike rates of over 100.

Meanwhile, as it relates to Jamaica's overall chances, despite a hot and cold campaign thus far, Logie says he is confident the team can go all the way.

Jamaica narrowly qualified for the semi-finals on Thursday after going down to a 17 runs defeat against the Darren Sammy-led Windward Islands.

superior net run rate

The defeat was the team's second of the group stages after going down to the Combined Campuses and Colleges in their second game.

However, based on a superior net run rate, Jamaica was able to advance ahead of England Twenty20 runners-up Somerset and Guyana, both of whom they defeated in earlier Group A play to end with a two win and two loss record.

"We have been rather hot and cold, and are yet to find the magic formula to maintain two or three consistent performances," said Logie, shortly after the team's final training session yesterday.

"But we have been improving and getting it right, and with the team now very much in semi-final mode."

"We have the quality players, and are understanding the format a lot better, and back ourselves to go all the way," he added.

Logie, who along with team manager and Jamaica's technical director, Jimmy Adams, are overseeing the team, also said that for today's game there could be a few changes.

"We have been trying the Bernard initiative, and it has not really worked out the way we wanted it to, so we are prepared to look at that again, as we have options," he said.

"We have to look at getting more runs and try to stem the flow of wickets, in our first six overs, which should improve our scoring rate, and prevent us from playing catch-up cricket.

Logie also spoke about the pitch conditions in Barbados, which he says should tend to favour Jamaica's style of play, and is another reason why he is optimistic about his team's chances.

"The conditions in Barbados is a bit more to what we are used to back home, as the balls tend to come on a bit more, and the players can play more lateral shots," he explained.

"This is unlike the wicket in Antigua, and this is another reason why we are optimistic about our chances."