Like freshly poured cream in coffee, Bermuda?s newly-acquired fighting spirit again rose to the top to leave them in contention against hosts Canada heading into today?s third and final day of play at the plush Toronto Cricket Club.

Dismissing their opponents for 207 in 60.1 overs, a first innings lead of 82 runs, Bermuda recovered from yet another early order collapse to leave this evenly-contested match poised on a knife edge.

?I think we are in a very good position. Basically day one belonged to Canada and today belonged to us,? commented Bermuda skipper Clay Smith.

?Now the game is evenly balanced.?

Bermuda?s second innings got off to a disastrous start after losing their top order with only 61 runs on the board some 21 runs in arrears, with Canadian opening pair Henry Osinde and Umar Bhatti again the chief catalysts.

Osinde, generating pace off a drying pitch, did the early damage to have Chris Foggo (10) and Irving Romaine (12) back in the pavilion before Bhatti, claiming his ninth and tenth wickets of the match, bowled a sweeping Saleem Mukuddem (21) around his legs and found the thick edge of Graham Strange?s flashing blade, leaving Bermuda wobbling at 61 for four after 23 overs.

But for the second time in as many days, Bermuda skipper Clay Smith (45)and Janeiro Tucker came to the rescue by producing a timely fifth-wicket partnership worth 55 runs in 24 overs to revive the Island?s ICC Intercontinental Cup hopes.

Playing a genuine captain?s innings, and every ball on its merit, Smith was unlucky not to have reached what would have been a deserved fifth ? and second successive ? half century in his three matches in the three-day tournament.

Smith fell victim to a leg before decision 15 minutes before the tea break, five runs shy of the milestone, to a questionable umpiring decision after stroking five fours off 123 balls in 156 minutes.

?That?s cricket, really,? Smith smiled.

But any ideas Canada might have conjured of peeling away Bermuda?s lower order were dashed as the real fireworks began when a rejuvenated Dean Minors joined Tucker at the crease to add another 93 runs in 38 overs in a sixth-wicket stand that was only interrupted when stumps were drawn at 6.30 p.m.

Minors, batting with nerves of steel and at times as many as four fielders around the bat, combined patience with controlled aggression and delighted those around the ground with his some powerful strokeplay, fancy footwork and running between the stumps.

Tucker, managing to keep his aggressive nature under wraps, batted sensibly and was no less a class act.

Minors blasted seven fours and a towering six over the pavilion to remain unbeaten overnight on 50 scored off 126 balls in 101 minutes, while Tucker?s subdued 65 came off 175 balls in 200 minutes and contained three fours and two sixes.

It was a partnership which evoked both praise and admiration from Bermuda?s small following and perhaps left many a Canadian fan tossing and turning in their sleep.

?Those guys batted extremely well and so I take my hat off to them for putting us in a comfortable position,? said Smith.

At close of play Bermuda were left at 209 for five, a second innings lead of 127 runs.

Earlier in the day it took Gus Logie?s men, inspired by the animated Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock and Mukuddem, only 17 overs to polish off Canada?s tail.

The economical Leverock, bowling a tidy line and length, picked up where he had left off the day before, claiming the key wickets of Ashish Bagai (76), George Codrington (35) and Kevin Sandher (8) to finish with outstanding figures of four for 46 off 22.1 ovrs, including seven maidens.

Mukuddem, who also bowled a nagging line, also took four wickets, his at a cost of 52 runs off 16 overs with three maidens, while Hasan Durham seized two for 31 off ten overs.

Canada managed to add 58 runs to their overnight first innings total (149 for six) to finish at 207.

?Hopefully we can come back on the final day and build a 200-plus lead and hopefully put ourselves in position to win,? added Smith.

?If we get anything above 200 it will basically put us in the driver?s seat, especially with Leverock and Hasan being two experienced bowlers and the wicket turning a bit.?