New Zealand suffered a blow to its Test preparations today when key spin bowler Daniel Vettori suffered ankle ligament damage in the three-day tour match against the ACT President's XI at Manuka Oval.

The injury offset a successful comeback to the New Zealand side by Chris Cairns who bowled 20 overs.

But there was little else to please the Kiwis today. At the close of the first day's play, the ACT side was 3-280, with Canberra opening batsman Jack Smith top-scoring with 145 not out.

Vettori twisted his right leg in just his second over today.

Fielding off his own bowling, Vettori attempted to gather a firmly hit ball by ACT batsman Matthew Phelps but fell awkwardly.

The spinner appeared in great pain as he was taken from the ground and while x-rays confirmed there was no bone damage, early reports indicated he had strained ligaments.

New Zealand team physiotherapist Dale Shackel said Vettori had the ankle packed in ice after a short stay and x-rays at the hospital.

"Sometimes with those ankle sprains they can be very sore for a start and then get better reasonably quickly," Shackel told reporters.

"We're optimistic he'll make a quick recovery but it's too early to say at this stage."

Shackle said Vettori would take no further part in the match but he was optimistic of him being able to play in the Brisbane Test on November 8.

In his absence, reserve off-spinner Glen Sulzberger (Sulzberger) took on the lion's share of the bowling, returning 0-72 from 34 overs.

Better news for the Kiwis was that Cairns, who injured his knee in January, bowled well in his first serious hit-out in more than eight months.

He bowled within himself and took 1-85.

The all-rounder captured the opening wicket of New South Wales conscript Corey Richards in his first over and had the figures of 1-3 off his first five over spell.

But the day belonged to the ACT batsmen, with Smith's ton and two other half-centuries.

Smith gave two chances to be caught in the field early but survived to put together a polished innings featuring strong cutting off the back foot.

He raced through the 90s and passed 100 with a six and two fours in successive scoring shots.

Matthew Phelps, another of the five NSW players in the ACT President's side, hit 10 boundaries in his 51 runs, sharing a 125-run partnership with David Hazel (56).

© 2001 AAP