Proteas lose four wickets before rain cuts first day of Test series against Sri Lanka

The visitors had won the toss and, unsurprisingly, elected to bowl first in overcast conditions with the pitch offering plenty of assistance to the seamers.

Aiden Markram (9) struck two early boundaries but Sri Lanka made the breakthrough in the third over when Asitha Fernando found the edge of the opener and was caught at second slip.

It got better for the tourists in the next over when left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando also had Tony de Zorzi (4) caught in the slip cordon to leave the hosts on 14-2.

Tristan Stubbs and captain Temba Bavuma then added 32 for the third wicket with the skipper surviving a dropped chance in the slip cordon.

A change of bowling to Lahiru Kumara brought more joy for the Sri Lankans as the fast bowler got rid of Stubbs (16) and then clean bowled David Bedingham (4) to leave the Proteas on 54-4.

Bavuma again had some luck go his way as he gloved a rising Kumara delivery to wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis but was called back due it being a no-ball.

The skipper made the most of his reprieves and has so far struck five fours in his unbeaten 28 and will resume at the crease on Thursday with Kyle Verreynne (9 not out).

Both teams will be hoping for better weather over the next four days as they try to force a result that would them in contention for a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord's next year.

READ MORE: Proteas women looking to level the series against England