They said there was no cricket talent coming through in the Caribbean, that Trinidad and Tobago didn't have a chance in the Champions League. Bookmakers had them at more than 20 to 1 for the trophy, with only Wayamba registering a higher price.

Yet they go into the semi-finals as the only unbeaten team in the competition, and the best thing about that is they've done it in some style. They've won a last-over thriller thanks to Dwayne Bravo, come back from a seemingly impossible situation to beat New South Wales with an outrageous innings from Kieron Pollard that gave the tournament a welcome boost, and they've dictated terms from the off to leave the fancied Eagles bowlers battered and bruised.

In a competition that has sparked periodically, the only constant flare has been lit by the Trini boys, who have treated us to the best entertainment that Twenty20 can offer.

Little wonder then that they've become most fans' second team. As their batsmen flayed the Eagles on Sunday and the ska-ish Trinidad theme song screamed from speakers after every other ball, it was clear who the Hyderabad massive were supporting and it was no surprise.

Never mind what David Hussey says about low-scoring pitches like Delhi being a great spectacle, Twenty20 is about seeing as many runs as possible and to see Trinidad bat is to feel as if the consequences of the world have been left at the stadium's gates.

"I certainly see a very dynamic, exciting game being played by the Trinidad and Tobago lads," says Boeta Dippenaar, before sounding a word of caution. "They are the type of team that will score 213 but you might find in another game that they're bowled out for 100. That's the type of game they play."

On a pitch like Hyderabad's, being bowled out for 100 is a risk you're willing to take and it's also the type that fans come to see. But it's also not the only aspect of Trinidad's success.

"I will say one last thing," said Justin Langer after Somerset's exit was confirmed, "and that's that those guys have unity. If you have a unified dressing room with that kind of spirit it can take you a long way."

The IPL teams will vouch for that. Not only were their limited moments of success entirely reliant on individual performances but they were also the sides who produced uglier moments, with bowlers giving fielders sarcastic applause after misfields and very few instances of genuine camaraderie.

In direct contrast, Trinidad and Tobago play for each other and their celebration of Pollard's heroics was one of the tournament's finest images. There was little self-glorification - instead he immediately turned to the dugout to share the moment with his team-mates before joking with them by going for a typically West Indian run-around. It was a far cry from the posturing we often see from big names in the IPL sides.

Only time will tell whether Dippenaar's 100-all-out prophecy comes to pass, but at this stage they're the most exciting bet for the title. The Cobras, Bushrangers and Blues have all looked very solid so far but don't seem to have as many batsmen willing to throw caution to the wind and have a cheeky crack.

Dippenaar's analysis of South African sides could be a useful pointer for the Cobras on Thursday: "I do think that generally the South Africans play a bit more of a cautious game because our wickets force us to do that, but this type of tournament will probably open our minds into knowing that if we want to be good at playing here then we need to rethink how we play the game."

The other three semi-finalists are also a known quantity in comparison to Trini.

"We knew the way Trinidad and Tobago play is a very explosive game but what makes them equally dangerous is that you don't know all the players on show so there's an element of surprise there," noted Dippenaar after his side had been slain by Adrian Barath, a 19-year-old playing his first competitive twenty20 match.

But it's not just the odd player who brings an element of surprise with Trini, it's every ball they face and an unpredictable nature is what draws people to any sport. With the local sides all bombing out, Trini have proven just the tonic for a competition trying to find its feet. The best thing is, there's still more to come.