Cairns blasts New Zealand to a massive win

Chris Cairns blasted 108 as New Zealand thumped Somerset by 105 runs in their warm-up game ahead of the Champions Trophy, at Taunton. New Zealand were in a spot of bother at 84 for 4, but Cairns blasted them out of the mire with his 80-ball cracker, including ten sixes. Somerset could muster just 170 in their reply.

Apart from Cairns's hundred, Hamish Marshall's 56 was also responsible for New Zealand reaching 275. Michael Parsons, the 19-year-old seam bowler from Somerset, snapped up six wickets for just 30 and polished off the innings with 5 for 10 from his last three overs.

Somerset didn't even get close as they folded for 170 and Daniel Vettori snapped up 3 for 36 from his ten overs. Keith Parsons top scored with 58 and Ian Blackwell slammed a quickfire 48 off 36, which included ten fours.

"This was just another day of practice as far as we are concerned, although it was a match situation," John Bracewell, New Zealand's coach, was quoted as saying, on the BBC Sport website. "We are having a great week of preparation down here with fantastic weather and excellent facilities so I am very happy with the way things are going."