Kirsten misses chance

South African opener Gary Kirsten blew a chance to gain some valuable batting practice on the last day of the cricket tour match against Western Australia here today.

Kirsten was out for 59 six minutes before lunch when he spooned a return catch to left arm wrist spinner Brad Hogg.

His demise left South Africa 2-121 at lunch, with Jacques Kallis on 45 and Neil McKenzie four.

The tourists were still 112 behind WA, which made 8-600 in its first innings in reply to South Africa's 367.

In favourable conditions, Kirsten was annoyed not to make the most of his chance for a long innings ahead of the Test match against Australia starting in Adelaide on Friday.

He batted 163 minutes and hit 10 fours.

Kirsten's fellow Test opener Herschelle Gibbs, after making only two in the first innings, had been unable to bat so far today because of a groin strain.

Kallis revelled against Hogg, hitting two sixes and a four off one over with brutal strokeplay.

His 45 came off 70 balls with 40 runs from boundaries - seven fours and two sixes.

Earlier, Jacques Rudolph was caught behind off Gavin Swan without adding to his overnight score of 12.

As a rule, the touring batsmen were rarely troubled by a WA attack which was missing pace spearhead Matthew Nicholson.

Nicholson, who made his maiden first-class century yesterday after taking five wickets in South Africa's first innings, was unable to bowl because he was struck a painful blow on the toe while batting.