New Zealand manager Jeff Crowe has learnt to be philosophical about bad days in cricket but he can't have suffered many worse than today's effort against a lowly ACT President's XI at Manuka Oval.

With Test spin bowler Daniel Vettori leaning on crutches in the stands and gun all-rounder Chris Cairns being belted about the park by batsmen who have never played first-class cricket, New Zealand's preparation for the upcoming Test matches against Australia was looking shaky.

The ACT side, including five players on the fringes of the New South Wales team, made the most of the Kiwis' predicament and amassed 6-439 before declaring.

ACT's Jack Smith (156) and Sydney grade player Grant Lambert (101) hit entertaining centuries and made sure the Kiwis had plenty of fielding practice.

At stumps, the Kiwis were 1-133, with Mathew Sinclair on 51 not out and Matthew Bell on 44 not out with a full day's play remaining.

Uncertainty still hangs over Vettori's tour after twisting his right ankle heavily underneath himself yesterday when attempting to field a hot drive off his own bowling.

He was due to have an MRI scan which would then be assessed by a sport doctor.

"Really, it is only at that point that we will know what the future is for Daniel," Crowe said.

Discussions would be held with cricket management in New Zealand overnight to decide the next step, he said.

"We'll know more tonight whether it is in the serious category or not. I just hope that it's not. It could well be that he's playing in the first Test."

Cairns returned the figures of 1-115 from 25 overs in his first serious hit-out back in the Kiwi team in eight months after a serious knee injury. He bowled in five-over spells but was severely dealt with by century-maker Lambert this morning.

"The thing is that he got through it. Let's face it, it's been a tough four and a half sessions for our guys," Crowe said.

"Those are the sort of days you're going to have to endure anyway. That's just mileage."

Crowe said Cairns needed to get back into match fitness with some long spells of bowling.

"I'm just very pleased that Chris got up this morning ... he's a bit sore but he's got through it OK and he feels good about it.

"Last night he was working with the video guy just to make sure his action was looking good."

He said Cairns had two more matches in Queensland to find form before the first Test in Brisbane starting on November 8.

Crowe said it was no embarrassment to have two centuries hit off the team's bowling by players who had not played first class cricket.

"Anyone who's played cricket in Australia knows there's some good talent in this place, all through the grades basically," he said.

"Our guys are not in Test mode just yet."

Lambert's ton was the feature of the day's play. He collected 15 boundaries from cuts, pulls and drives and brought up his century with a six over midwicket from offspinner Glen Sulzberger.

© 2001 AAP