Champions Excelsior High are firm favourites to get the better of Wolmer’s Boys’ in the 2022 Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/(ISSA) urban Grace Shield three-day cricket final at Melbourne Oval in St Andrew.

The match is scheduled to start at 10:00 am today.

In last week’s semi-finals, Excelsior blew away Kingston College (KC) by nine wickets, while Wolmer’s Boys’ brushed aside Calabar High, also by nine wickets.

According to both coaches, the final, which is to feature two innings per team, should be very interesting and competitive.

Not having lost a game this season, Excelsior will also come into the final with a preliminary-round win over Wolmer’s.

“My chances are very good as the players are ready and very focused on the job at hand. This is a final,” said Excelsior Head Coach Kirkland Bailey, while adding he expects a competitive final.

Bailey said he hopes for a pitch that gives batsmen and bowlers an equal chance.

The Excelsior coach is again banking on top batsman and Captain Brandon English to lead the charge against Wolmer’s.

Much will also depend on Michael Clarke, Kavel Reid, Maligue McKenzie, and Norris Tenn. In the bowling department the bulk of the responsibility will fall on English, Anthony Decras and Demaro Scott.

Coach Jerraine Williams of Wolmer’s Boys’ said his players are ready to go.

“It is cricket and it’s also a final. I am very optimistic as it should be a much tougher game than when we lost in the preliminary round to Excelsior,” Williams said.

“I would like the players to put up a very good total against Excelsior… they are upbeat and in high hopes,” Williams said.

The Wolmer’s coach noted that the toss could be pivotal and he hopes that his captain can win and have the option of batting first or sending the opposition to have first strike.

Williams said he is relying heavily on West Indies youth player Jordan Johnson in both the batting and bowling departments, as he has been performing well this season. The coach hopes that other capable players, such as Carey Hinds and Captain Justine Beckford, can get among the runs.

Left-arm spinner Alex Hinds, he said, should play a key role in the bowling, fresh from his seven-wicket haul in the semi-final against Calabar.