A huge appeal for lbw from Philander against Cook on 49. West Indian umpire Joel Wilson shakes his head and Du Plessis, despite the protestations of his seamer, decides against using his one remaining review. He was right to do so, it was shown to be going over the top.

Harry Hill: Not sure today was a batting day after winning toss; ball seaming, batsman lacking confidence, and rain disrupting any tempo.

Malan dances down the wicket to Maharaj and makes no contact. There is a speculative appeal from the spinner but no review. Replays show it would have hit but the impact was outside. Malan still to score after eight deliveries.

Simon Mahon: England selectors must be desperate for Hameed to get first-class runs when counties finish playing T20.

There was some sunshine bathing the ground but whilst typing this sentence it has gone and there are some very dark clouds circling the pavilion. A test for debutant Malan, who is still on nought, while former captain Cook needs one more for his fifty.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at The Oval

The view of where the weather comes from. Bit of blue, lots of cloud. Judge for yourself.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

Westley and Malan have a great opportunity to get in that Ashes squad. Get a hundred in the next couple of weeks and you'll be on the big bird to Australia. As a top-order player, you'd want to start your career at The Oval and Old Trafford.

The debutants Westley and Malan have similar career records. Essex's Westley, who is 28, has played 141 first-class matches and made 18 centuries. Malan, a year older, has played 142 first-class games and has also recorded 18 hundreds. I remember seeing him score a swashbuckling century at Lord's and tipping him for the Ones to Watch section we used to do...in 2007 I think it was.

We will start again at 15:15 BST.

An indication of how dark it was a moment ago, but fortunately it has got a bit brighter since.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

The ground staff have been sent out to get rid of the covers, so I don't think it'll be long before we're back out there.

As we wait for the shower to pass, have another look at this catch from Quinton de Kock to dismiss the England captain. Super stuff.

Will Aitkenhead: If nothing else England's crossword prowess has been boosted by addition of Westley and TRJ - only two graduates in the side.

Rain stops playpublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 27 July 2017

14:52 BST 27 July 2017

Eng 114-3

Umbrellas are raised and the now luxuriantly bearded umpire Aleem Dar - if that really is him - calls the covers on to stop play for the first time this afternoon.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at The Oval

Of the Test grounds in England, The Oval is unique in that it has outdoor press seating. This is the view. To the left, about three feet away, are spectators supping lager.

Malan might not have chosen this scenario to play his maiden Test innings, facing the wily Philander in overcast conditions, with three slips and a gully poised for any aberration, but he calmly plays out his first four deliveries with ease.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

Vernon Philander now has 171 Test wickets, which takes him past Hugh Tayfield in seventh place in South Africa's all-time list.

That list reads: Shaun Pollock 421, Dale Steyn 417, Makhaya Ntini 390, Allan Donald 330, Jacques Kallis 291, Morne Morkel 262, Vernon Philander 171, Hugh Tayfield 170.

Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special

That was brilliant from De Kock. The ball seamed away and he's managed to dive and gather it in front of Hashim Amla at first slip. I'd like to see Rabada into the attack now in place of Maharaj - there's 40 minutes until tea and South Africa need to get a sniff now.

Image source, Reuters