Cricket: McMillan, Horne hit some form

A timely return to form by New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan and a near-century by opener Matt Horne were highlights of a frustrating second day of their cricket tour match with Somerset at Taunton.

While Horne has booked one opening spot, his partner for the first test starting at Edgbaston on Thursday is not clear.

World Cup hero Roger Twose spurned his opportunity to impress up the order, being dismissed cheaply once New Zealand finally got to bat on a friendly wicket in hot conditions.

Twose was caught for four, the manner of his dismissal frustrating coach Steve Rixon.

"It would have been nice if he could have spent a bit longer out there. He was a little rash early and was dropped before he was caught.

"In three overs he was playing a little one day cricket instead of test match cricket," Rixon said. "If Roger is going to open in the tests he has to be on song and raring to go and not using the games as a hit and miss.

"He was out in the field for a long period of time and had an opportunity but didn't make the most of it."

Nathan Astle, the pick of an unpenetrative bowling attack, was another not to make his mark at the crease.

But Rixon was impressed with the efforts of Horne and McMillan who remained unbeaten on 83.

Horne, who like Twose was dropped before he had scored, profited from the let-off to compile a boundary-studded 91.

"He's starting to get into the sort of groove we've been accustomed to. He's in very good touch and he was bitterly disappointed to get out," Rixon said.

McMillan, out of touch during a lean World Cup campaign, also had the chance to rack up a big score as New Zealand, resuming at 229 for four, look to bat out the third day and get within reach of Somerset's first innings total of 554.

While some batting efforts were heartening, Rixon felt the bowling attack laboured too long before dismissing the county side. Somerset's tail added a further 147 runs after starting day two on 407 for seven.

"Our length was the problem. We bowled a bit short and the opposition scored 130-140 runs through the vacant third man area, Rixon said.

He did reserve some praise for all-rounder Chris Cairns who bowled lively but without much reward.

"That the best he's bowled for a while. He got into a bit of rhythm for probably the first time on tour."-NZPA