A DRAWN GAME.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 129, 2 June 1926, Page 9

A DRAWN GAME.

MIDDLESEX OUT FOR 349. STEVENS GETS 149. WOODFULL APPEARS AGAIN, (By Cable.—Press Association.—Oopyrlgfat.) (Received 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 1. The cricket match Australia v. Middlesex was resumed this morning. ■ The weather was warm and overcast. The wicket was wearing well. The attendance at Lord's to-day was four thousand. Stevens (not out 114) and Haig continued Middlesex's first innings. Haig did not wait to play himself in. He touched a rising ball from Gregory and it went to the boundary over the heads of the slips. Then he drove one off Gregory, which was misfielded by Macartney and yielded four. Haig followed thiß up by driving Ryder first to the off boundary and then to the on boundary in the same over. Mistiming one from Gregory in the following over he was well taken at second slip low down by WoodfulL Tanner followed and was caught by Andrews off Gregory for two. The score was tLen 265 for eight wickets (Stevens, not out, 122). SOLID STEVENS While Haig did not refuse to take risks, Stevens was content with occasional singles to Bardsley at long leg, or to Taylor at third man. Gregory started with a good length, but later fell off. With the board showing eight for 265 Murrell joined Stevens, and with a fait slice of luck gathered in a number oi fours through the slips. He waa rathei unhappy when facing Ryder, his strokes being often late. After the third century was passed Stevens, while not abandoning caution scored some excellent boundaries ofj Collins and Grimmett, Murrell follow ing suit. This partnership was mosl valuable, and arrived just in time t< save a follow on. Stevens, after being 312 minutes' at the crq»se, was unluckj in going out to a type of ball whici previously he had played with ease. Hii exhibition was very solid throughout He never gave the semblance of a chance and hit twelve fours. The score wai then 341.Murrell continued vigorously, bul after 65 minutes of bright, punishing cricket, he was bowled by a. haH-voiiej from Grimmett. He was most courageous, where the majority oi batsmen would have been cautious owing to the state of the game. Hie score included ten fours. AUSTRALIANS' SECOND STRIKE, Durston and Haig were the opening bowlers in Australia's second innings Taylor was soon off the mark, cutting and sending Durston to leg in an attractive manner. The first over pro duced a four, a two, and a four, Woodfull assisting by taking two fours fron Haig with on-drives. Woodfull was putting plenty of force into his drives Tanner and Allen then took up the attack, and the change of bowling lerj to a diminution of runs. Both batsmen treated Allen most re spectfully. In his second over, thif bowler completely beat Taylor, rooting up his off stump. The first wicket ha. yielded 70 runs. Allen was variable being sometimes magnificent, and calling out all Woodfull's powers of. defence. At other times he was pitching short, the batsmen scoring behind the wicket without effort. WOODFULL'S CENTURY. Woodfull, when 62, sent a very hard return to Tanner, who was unable to do more than get his fingers to it. Ryder was getting into his stride, when he misjudged an off-break from Hearne, who relied mainly on leg turn. Woodfull continued freely and delightfully. He pulled Hearne in excellent fashion. When 71 he survived an appeal for leg before from Lee. Oldfield, when 4, gave Lee a warm, but apparently easy, return, which was dropped. Both batsmen proceeded to drive vigorously, Woodfull especially bringing off some forceful drives to the on side. Hearne and Lee were both inclined to over-pitch the ball, and gave the batsmen plenty of opportunities to hit out, but their strokes were all along the carpet. Woodfull reached his century with a magnificent off drive off Lee, having been at the wicket 150 minutes. The next ball he was caught at the wicket. He bad hit nine fours. The total then was 180. The closing stages of the innings were mostly in the nature of a practice. Oldfield did the major portion of the batting. He made attractive leg strokes and off drives. Gregory also hit out powerfully. Details of the scores are: MIDDLESEX.—First Innings. Stevens, b Collins 1413 Lee, b Gregory 13 Hearne, b Gregory 59 Hendren, c Woodfull, b Everett ... 10 Bruce, b Everett ..' 8 Allen, c and b Grimmett 11 Mann, c Andrews, b Everett 5 Haig, c Woodfull, b Gregory 21 Tanner, c Andrews, b Gregory 2 Murrell, b Grimmett 54 Durston, not out 3 Extras 7 Total 348 Bowling: Gregory took four wickets for 73 runs, Macartney none for 34, Grimmett, two for 92, Everett three for 75, Ryder none for 47, Collins one for 21. AUSTRALIA. First innings 489 i Second Innings. Woodfull, c Murrell, b Lee 100 Taylor, b Allen 28 Andrews, c Allen, b Hearne 18 Collins, c Durston, b Tanner 2 Rvder, b Hearne 12 Oldfield, not out 43 Gregory, not out 28 Extras 8 Total for five wickets 230 Bowling: Durston took no wickets for 37 runs, Haig none for 16., Tanner one for 27, Allen one for 25, Hearne two for 74, Lee one for 48, Hendren none for 4. (A. and N.Z.)

TWO GOOD CRICKETERS. ALLEN'S FINE BOWLING. Colonel P. C. Trevor, writing in the "Daily Telegraph," says: -"Stevens had the honour of making the first century against the Australians. He was coolness personified. He has been batting most consistently this season, and he has the temperament for a big occasion, whether it be in batting, bowling or fielding.

"Allen at first could not keep his direction or find his length, but when he got the ball under control he met with continuous success. The more Gregory's colleagues failed the more fiercely that batsman hit. He was especially severe on Haig. "Neither Hearne nor Stevens took liberties, but they made the Australian bowling look innocuous."