SHIVNARINE Chanderpaul scored a spirited and unbeaten 132 for the West Indies in their rain-hit four-day match against South Africa A at Pietermaritzburg yesterday.

Bad light and then rain forced a premature end to the second day's play midway through the afternoon session with the touring team, who had begun the day on 77 for three, 256 for six in their first innings.

Chanderpaul completed his century in 201 minutes off 164 balls with 15 fours and a six. When play was called off he had faced 212 deliveries with 20 fours.

The most significant stand came between Chanderpaul and reserve wicketkeeper Junior Murray, who was dropped twice in making 45. They put on 110 for the sixth wicket.

Day 4: McLean is pick of the seamers

RAIN ended the West Indies tour match in Pietermaritzburg prematurely yesterday with questions about their second-line bowling strength still unanswered before the third Test against South Africa in Durban, starting on Saturday.

In the absence of Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose, the West Indian strike bowlers failed to dismiss the South Africa A tail-enders efficiently, which allowed the unlikely pairing of Paul Adams and Charl Willoughby to put on 32 for the 10th wicket.

Adams hit 27 off 55 balls and Willoughby, regarded one of the worst No 11 batsmen in the South African game, survived 42 minutes.

Nixon McLean did manage to crack through the middle-order to finish up with three for 49 from 18 overs, achieving more than his two Test rivals Mervyn Dillon, who bowled only nine overs, and Franklyn Rose.

McLean dismissed Nic Pothas, Shafiek Abrahams and Makhaya Ntini to edge ahead of Rose in the race for a West Indies place in the Kingsmead Test.

Rain and bad light restricted play to only 251.5 overs during the four days. Junior Murray, the wicketkeeper, used his first first-class outing to score 45 and 11. Shivnarine Chanderpaul's 182 was the highlight of the match.