Western Australian No.8 batsman Matthew Nicholson made an unbeaten century as South Africa's Test contenders failed to lift in the cricket tour match here today.

WA made 8(dec)-600 - the highest score it's posted against an overseas touring side - as South Africa suffered in its only match before the first Test against Australia starting at Adelaide on Friday.

At stumps, South Africa was 0-40, with Gary Kirsten on 28 and Jacques Rudolph, opening in place of the injured Herschelle Gibbs, on 12.

The 600 runs posted by WA is the most conceded by South Africa against any Australian state side and the most the Proteas have given up in any match since Australia made 8-645 in the first Test at Wanderers in 1997.

Nicholson, who took a bag of five wickets as South Africa was bowled out for 367, played a big hand in WA's lead of 233.

In an innings of three hours and 12 minutes, he faced 139 balls, hitting 13 fours and three sixes, making the most of a few chances.

WA captain Simon Katich declared as soon as Nicholson posted his maiden first-class century.

While the Proteas had excuses - captain Shaun Pollock was resting and veteran Allan Donald was on the comeback trail - the performance by the Test candidates left a lot to be desired.

Steve Elworthy arrived in Australia with a superb domestic record behind him but took 0-88 from 30 overs while Makhaya Ntini, with only four wickets in his previous four Tests, took 2-108 in 32 overs.

Donald, who was not bowling at full speed, took 1-100 in 25 overs and left arm spinner Claude Henderson, who looms as a vital player in the first Test against Australia, took 2-120 in 40 overs.

Donald bowled only four overs today and reportedly had blisters from bowling 20 overs in a new pair of boots on Saturday.

Wickets were so hard to come by for South Africa that Lance Klusener actually appealed when he'd clean bowled Stuart Karppinen late in the day.

The tourists did take three quick wickets in the morning but then Nicholson and Brad Hogg (90) batted through the middle session and put on 175 for the seventh wicket before Hogg played over the top of a Klusener delivery to bring some blessed relief.

In total four WA batsman made half-centuries and two - Nicholson and Scott Meuleman - posted their maiden first-class tons.

Nicholson played some delightful shots - and the odd slog, as would be expected from a No.8.

In one Klusener over he took 14 runs from a perfect straight drive, a classical cover drive and flat bat swipe which went for six over long-on.

© 2001 AAP