South Africa put the double disappointment of losing the toss and the absence of Jacques Kallis to dominate a weather-affected first day of the third cricket Test against New Zealand in Wellington.

The tourists were 2-136 when bad light forced a premature end to a day’s play in which only 42 overs were bowled after a damp outfield delayed proceedings.

After being asked to bat on a Basin Reserve surface expected to aid the bowlers, South Africa lost captain Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla, both to contentious decisions, as the Black Caps failed to make the most of conditions.

Amla made an assured 63 and received support from a watchful Alviro Petersen (44 not out) to add 93 for the second wicket after the early loss of Smith for five.

He went in dubious fashion in the sixth over after being given out caught behind off Doug Bracewell.

Smith reviewed the decision and, despite there being no obvious evidence of an edge in the video replay, he was given out.

The opener, who brought up 8000 Test runs in his brief innings, trudged off shaking his head.

The attacking Amla, who chalked up his 23rd Test fifty, was particularly severe on part-time bowler Dean Brownlie, hitting him for three boundaries in an over before tea.

He went in the first over after the resumption, top edging an attempted hook, but his dismissal also had some doubt as Mark Gillespie might have bowled a no-ball in taking the wicket.

JP Duminy, called into the side after Kallis woke with a stiff neck, cracked 23 from 28 balls while opener Petersen remained vigilant over 113 balls before the gloom set in 45 minutes into the session.

The hosts made two changes to the side beaten by nine wickets in the second Test in Hamilton, bringing in batsmen Daniel Flynn and Brownlie.

In addition to the forced change, South Africa opted for pace over spin with speedster Marchant de Lange getting the nod ahead of legspinner Imran Tahir.

South Africa lead the three-Test series 1-0.