INNSWOOD High will seek to snatch their third Corporate Area double in as many years when they face the challenge of former champions Kingston College (KC) in the final of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/JIIC Knockout competition today at the Melbourne Cricket Club.

Play is scheduled to start at 10:00 am.

The Old Harbour Road-based Innswood have already won the 2012 Grace Shield title after beating St Catherine High in the final.

Coached by the astute Kirk Gordon, Innswood reached this season’s KO decider after a comfortable 68-run win over Spanish Town High, while the Anshuman Kentish-conditioned KC team defeated Eltham High by five wickets in the other semi-final.

Innswood lack the batting firepower of 2010 and 2011, but have remained dominant through the consistent batting of captain and wicketkeeper Terrence Brown, as well as positive knocks from Shane Pusey and Marshell March.

Led by a season haul of 62 from left-arm spinner Stephan Casey, slow bowling continues to be a strong point of the team. Wrist spinner Jermaine Bennett and off-spinner Aaron Graham have also contributed with useful bowling performances.

Gordon told the Jamaica Observer that he is not familiar with the composition of a Kingston College outfit that he has not seen since beating them in the KO championship match two years ago.

“I’m not sure what their team is like. I haven’t seen them and we haven’t met since the 2010 final. I’m looking for my team to go out and play tough cricket though, because I know they must be doing something good to reach this far in the competition,” he said.

KC captain and left-handed batsman Javaughn Buchanan, as well as Tevon Campbell and Romario Hanchard are expected to take the fight to the opposition bowlers.

In the bowling department, Buchanan is again the linchpin with a variety of off-spin and medium pace. Off-spinner Obrien Duncan and Hanchard’s medium bowling have also been handy for the North Street-based team.

Kentish was upbeat when he spoke to the Observer and said that with the perceived frailty of the Innswood batting line-up, his team had a good chance of toppling the reigning champions.

“I’m quite confident. We’ve been playing well all season and we have been batting well, especially the captain Buchanan. If my top-six batsmen turn up and do what they are supposed to do and score plenty of runs, then I think we have a very good chance of beating Innswood.

“Innswood’s strength lies in the bowling, but their batting has not been so strong,” he said.

Kentish added that opening seam bowler Moses Edmondson will miss the clash due to exams.