The host team was forced to bat in difficult circumstances, as the unrelenting Proteas pace attack reduced them to 116-6.
Anrich Nortje claimed 3-43 with a bowling average above 90 mph, while Kagiso Rabada displayed exceptional technique with his 2-36.
Only Ollie Pope, who is undefeated and sitting at 61, survived the rigorous inspection, and even then, he had to be lucky enough to be dropped at 45.
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Zak Crawley, who started the game for England but only achieved nine runs to extend his streak of Test innings without a half-century to 13, was one of five hitters out for single-figure scores.
After 14:00 BST, torrential rain came and quickly filled the outfield, leaving 58 of the day’s 90 planned overs unbowled.
The match, the first game in a three-Test series, is expected to continue under dry conditions.
