Match Drawn With Somerset

Press, Volume C, Issue 29555, 3 July 1961, Page 7

Match Drawn With Somerset

(N.Z Prtst Association—Copynght) TAUNTON, June 30. Somerset’s last wicket pair foiled the Australians’ bid for victory today when they held on for the last half-hour to force a draw.

The Victorian fast bowler, R. A. Gaunt, almost bowled his side to success. He took six for 50, but the county held on and at stomps was nine for 230. After the Australians declared their second innings at four for 202, Somerset needed 345 in 237 minutes—but they never looked like getting them. But the former New South Wales batsman, W. E. Alley (95) made a fine attempt to get his second century in this match. Gaunt's bowling performance was marred by an inability to master his runup. He moved the ball considerably, but was called eight times for dragging in each innings. Tl.e Australia attack was handicapoed by the fact that neither R. Benaud nor F. M Misson bowled in this innings. Considering this weakness, tlje ta\jet Benaud set Somerset was not impossible and

while Alley was at the wicket the county looked quite capable of reaching it. Early in the day, Australia had battled on for 73 minutes, to add 93 runs. The wicket-keeper. B. N. Jarman, went on to score 85 —his highest score on the tour—and Benaud hit three sixes and three fours in a tremendously powerful 40 not out. Undoubtedly the Australians deserved a win for a splendid performance in the field, hampered as they were by bowling absences, but the match belonged to Alley. Scores: AUSTRALIANS First innings (for 3 wickets declared) .. ..440 Second Innings W. Lawry, lbw. b Langford 35 B. Jarman, c Alley, b Atkinson .. 85 B. Roeth, b Langford .. 28 R. Benaud. not out .. 40 K. Mackay, c and b Wright 8 P. J. Burge, not out .. 2

Extras (byes 3. wides 1) 4 Total for four wkts. 202

SOMERSET First Innings •. . 298 Second Innings R. Roe, c sub, b Kline .. 71 J. G. Lomas, b Gaunt .. 0 P. B. Wright, c Mackay, b Gaunt .. .. ..2 W. E, Alley, b Grant .. 95 C. Greetham, lbw. b Gaunt 0 M. J Kitchen, st Jarman, b Kline 8 C. R. M. Atkinson, lbw. b Gaunt .. .. 0 K. E. Palmer, e Booth, b Gaunt .. .. 6 H. W. Stephenson, c Mackay, b Quick .. 12 B. Langford, not out .. 16 K. D. Biddulph, not out .. 8 Extras (leg-byes 5, wides 1. no-balls 61 .. 12 Total for 9 wkta. 230 Fall of wickets: one for 3, two for 7, three for 139, four for 139. five for 161, six for 164. seven for 177, eight for 201, nine for 201.

Bowlins O. M. R. w K. D Biddulph 3 0 26 0 K. E. Palmer 3 0 15 0 B. Landlord .. 2/5 6 72 2 C. R. Atkinson 23 2 82 1 P. B. Wright .. 3 2 3 1

BowL ng 6. M. R. w. R. A. Gaunt .. 19 4 50 6 K. Mackay .. 7 4 8 0 I. W. Quick .. L. F. Kline .. 2® 27 12 5 68 92 1 2