Centuries by Jacques Kallis and Neil McKenzie ensured that South Africa completed their four-day engagement against Western Australia without further serious alarms on Monday.

With South Africa trailing by 233 on the first innings, following the home side's massive 600 for eight declared, there was just the faintest chance of a tense last day when Jacques Rudolph was out in the third over of the morning without the total having advanced past the overnight 40.

Kallis and McKenzie were primarily responsible for South Africa making 390 for five, not always against the most challenging bowling, before play was called off half an hour early.

Acting captain Mark Boucher said it had been a good work-out for both batsmen and bowlers and claimed some good had come out of the hours of toil in the field. "We started to work out our lines and lengths," he said, "and that will do us good for (the first Test in) Adelaide."

Boucher said the positive way in which the batsmen had played against Western Australia's spin bowlers was encouraging, although he did not make a direct correlation with the Australian Test side, which may include two leg-spinners in Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill. "We don't want to give any secrets away about how we are going to play Shane Warne," he said.

Boucher said both Allan Donald and Herschelle Gibbs would be fit for selection for the Test on Friday, with Donald's injury not regarded as serious, while Gibbs, with a stiff groin, was rested purely as a precautionary measure on Monday. He could have batted if necessary.

For the first hour of the day, Gavin Swan, who had Rudolph caught behind, and Stuart Karpinnen made Gary Kirsten and Kallis work hard to preserve their wickets.

Western Australia were, however, without their leading fast bowler, Matthew Nicholson, who suffered a blow on the right foot in making a century during his side's run feast. When Swan and Karpinnen ran out of steam the pressure eased considerably.

Brad Hogg, the left-arm spinner, started with a maiden but then suffered some heavy punishment from Kallis as he conceded 36 runs off his next three overs, including two sixes from three balls.

Kirsten and Kallis batted for most of the morning before Kirsten was out for 59, pushing a return catch to Hogg.

McKenzie joined Kallis and they batted with great confidence in putting on 161 for the third wicket in a partnership which ensured the match would end quietly in a draw. Kallis made 120 off 173 balls with 15 fours and three sixes before he inside-edged one of Hogg's chinaman deliveries onto his pad from where it squirted up for wicketkeeper Ryan Campbell to make a diving catch.

Western Australia made a token attempt to force an unlikely victory when they claimed the second new ball but it served only to increase the scoring rate, with 30 runs coming off the first four overs. Lance Klusener got off the mark by clubbing two fours off Karpinnen and McKenzie, who was on 90 when the new ball was taken, went to his century and then played some sparkling shots, scoring 12 off an over from Swan.

Clearly enjoying himself, McKenzie played a cracking off-drive against Karpinnen but Murray Goodwin pulled off a spectacular leaping catch, flinging himself to his right from mid-off. McKenzie made 114 off 152 balls with 12 fours and two sixes.

Klusener helped himself to a largely pressure-free half-century, reaching the mark with a straight six off Hogg, before he was lbw, trying to hit the next ball into Perth city. At that point, Boucher, who was batting with Klusener, decided enough was enough.

The team set off on Tuesday morning for Adelaide.

© The Sunday Times