Oliver tops 1,000 runs and scoops top award

MATT OLIVER was last night named Guernsey Cricket Association player of the year. The Total Cobo and Guernsey left-handed opener enjoyed a profilic season with the bat, scoring more than 1,000 runs for his club alone with a top score of 154 and 11 other competitive half-centuries.

Arguably his best innings, however, was his 58 in the inter-insular, which laid the foundation for Guernsey's huge winning total of 284.

In total he scored 1,185 runs in GCA competition, which did not include two good knocks in the annual GICC-JICC two-day game.

Oliver's Cobo teammates Jamie Nussbaumer and Gary Rich also picked up individual awards having been voted the young player and over-40 player of the year respectively.

Clubhouse Optimists' all-rounder Ami Banerjee picked up the weekend trophy for another fine season.

The classy Indian was the highest run scorer (326) in his club's successful Carey Olsen GCA Championship campaign and maintained his fine form into the KPMG CI Club Championship, scoring a ton against Jersey side Romerils.

Another island all-rounder, C&W Rovers' Tim Duke, retained his crown as Barclays Evening League Division One player of the year.

His 598 runs included two centuries at an average of 85.4.

The awards in the lower division were won mainly by players whose contributions helped their side take their respective title.

The one exception was in Division Five where Rob Newton of runners-up PWC claimed the prize for his outstanding all-round performances.

2005 GCA honours

Player of the year: Matt Oliver (Cobo)

Young player of the year: Jamie Nussbaumer (Cobo)

Over-40 player of the year: Gary Rich (Cobo)

Weekend player of the year: Ami Banerjee (Optimists) Evening League divisional players of the year, One: Tim Duke (Rovers); Two: Paul Le Ray (Salemites); Three: Jeff Martel (Pessimists B); Four: Gary Cook (Taverners B); Five: Rob Newton (PWC); Six: Rob Wakeham (Irregulars B).