Kneller tastes the bubbly

ROSS KNELLER picked up a bottle of champagne for his man-of-the-match performance at KGV yesterday.

The annual Dave Fisher Memorial Trophy match heralded the start of the new domestic season and Kneller's quickfire, unbeaten 81 ensured it was an early finish.

Kneller rushed the GCB Chairman's XI to a four-wicket victory with 18.1 overs to spare, the Cobo man smashing nine fours and two sixes as he gave scant respect to a young Miton Optimal attack.

The Guernsey and CI champions might have thought they were in with a chance when guest Ollie Newey picked up the vital wicket of Tim Ravenscroft with just 21 on the board chasing 204 for victory, but Jamie Nussbaumer and Jeremy Frith added 52 for the second wicket before Nussbaumer and Cobo colleague Ben Ferbrache were both bowled by Dave Hooper in his first over.