Vernon's been through the mill physically in this Test but he's there on the outfield having some bowling practice. South Africa are going through their huddle, there is a patch of blue in the sky, not enough to make a sailor a pair of trousers perhaps, but no rain yet and here come the England batsmen.

Jenning was dropped on six shortly before the rain arrived and it's fair to say he needs a few runs. Since he made that century in his first Test innings, against India in December, he has returned six single-figure scores in eight knocks. Here's how he was out for a duck on the first day.

Despite the gloomy forecasts, the covers are being removed and we are told that play will start again at 13:30 BST.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at The Oval

The umpires are inspecting as the rope gets dragged around the outfield. It's barely raining, but I'm not sure it's completely stopped. Apparently there's more on the way.

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He was denied a second Test century, however, as England debutant Toby Roland-Jones completed a five-wicket haul, the first England bowler to do so on debut in the first innings since Graham Onions eight years ago.

He finished with 5-57 from 16.4 overs and the South Africans were all out for 175, conceding a first innings lead of 178. England openers Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings then added 20 - not all of them out of the middle of the bat in Keaton's case - before rain arrived to prompt an early lunch.

Bavuma continued the resistance, however, recording his eighth Test fifty in style with a boundary.

Eventually, in the 13th over of the morning, England made the breakthrough as Morkel edged to the safe hands of Alastair Cook at first slip to give Jimmy Anderson a third wicket, his 480th in Test cricket.

This was almost one of the great catches of all time. Sadly for Ben Stokes, he was not able to cling on to the half/quarter chance offered by Bavuma's flashing drive.

South Africa resumed in a perilous position on 126-8 but they made a confident start with tailender Morne Morkel providing some resistance alongside the combative and determined Temba Bavuma.

Thanks Mitch. My dad's friend pays a lot of money for a long-range weather forecast and a couple of weeks ago he told us there would be no more rain down our way for the rest of July. I think it has rained every day since. Let's have a look at the highlights of the morning before the early lunch.

I am fairly confident that's the first time I've been mentioned in the same paragraph as Sir Ronald Harwood by the way.

And that's confirmed - lunch is being taken, and Boycs on TMS is upbraiding Dan Norcross for not having shaved this morning. Cross your fingers that the rain might relent. Stand by for Sir Ronald Harwood as TMS's View from the Boundary guest. In the meantime, here's Jamie Lillywhite to talk you through the precipitation.

Alex S: It's not just the five wickets that is impressive for TRJ. Just look at the quality of the players he got out!

Here's the TRJ five-for in full:

The covers are being wheeled on - there was an interruption yesterday when the players had only just left the field when they were waved back on, but I'd anticipate they might decide to take lunch (scheduled for 13:00 BST) a little early.

Stoney: This is so wrong. Philander should not be allowed to just come and go as he chooses. He came into the game unwell.

Rain stops playpublished at 12:45 British Summer Time 29 July 2017

12:45 BST 29 July 2017

Eng 20-0 (lead by 198)

Philander's back on the field, but the umpires have a chat between overs. And they're going off.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

I can't see South Africa saving this match, only the rain can save them. They have to be trying to bowl England out for 150, but even then England are 320 on.

It's not South Africa's day at the moment - now it's Cook's turn to edge towards the slips, not a chance as it bounced, but it scoots through the cordon for four. Morkel looks on ruefully.

Definite drizzle now, the umpires are looking at each other nervously and the Surrey groundstaff are slowly starting to mobilise. Supposedly, once it arrives, the rain will be around for a while.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

It bounced and went quick and third slip had come up. In the first innings they got a low catch and this one flew and they were too near.