KINGSTON College will seek to upstage ISSA/Grace Shield champions Innswood High when both teams meet today in the final of the JIIC Knockout competition at the Melbourne Cricket Club.

In one semi-final last week, Innswood defeated St Catherine rivals Eltham High by nine wickets to secure a place in their second corporate area title of 2010.

Jerraine Williams (three wickets for one run) and Peat Salmon (two for 10) helped to skittle out Eltham for 81. Salmon with 37 not out then featured in the reply of 85 for one as Innswood consolidated their dominance over the team that they had trounced by 232 runs in the Grace Shield final last month.

Today, last year’s beaten finalists Innswood will expect to get runs from captain Oraine Williams, Salmon, Kemar Foster, Oshane Morgan and the free-scoring Marshall March. In the bowling department, lively medium pacer Michail Powell and off-spinner Salmon have both taken over 30 wickets each this season.

In the other semi-final Kingston College successfully chased down St George’s College’s score of 100, while losing only two wickets in the process. Playing only his second schoolboy game this season, West Indies youth legspinner Akeem Dewar was the main tormentor in the North Street derby as he took four wickets for 27 runs and then made 30 during his team’s chase.

Dewar, who made his senior first-class debut earlier this month against Ireland, told the Observer that though his team starts as underdogs, they have a chance once they execute well.

“If we turn up and play well we can beat any team, even (though) we don’t have the strongest bowling or the strongest batting. Our strength lies in our all-round ability and once we do the simple things right we can match up with any team on the day,” he said.

Dewar may bat at number three in the line-up, and should get support from captain Javaughn Buchanan and Christopher Harrison.

Innswood’s coach Kirk Gordon says that despite Dewar’s presence, his team is confident of copping the Corporate Area double.

“We are aware of national player Akeem Dewar, who will add some strength to their team, but our boys are well prepared and they are focussed, so whatever they have to offer we’ll be up to the task,” he said.