England lost Mark Butcher in the fifth over of a grey third morning of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's.
Beginning the day on 27 for one, Butcher and Michael Vaughan walked out 20 minutes behind schedule due to some heavy rain.
The duo began well, pinching quick singles with regularity and tucking into anything drifting towards leg stump.
But Sri Lanka found the early breakthrough they were seeking when the left-handed Butcher fended away from his body at a delivery from Buddika Fernando which angled across him and was brilliantly caught by Mahela Jayawardene, diving to his right at third slip.
It was even more commendable given that Jayawardene, a centurion in the tourists' 555 for eight declared, was not thought likely to take the field today because of a hip injury sustained while batting.
His reactions left England 48 for two, having negotiated the opening seven overs this morning with a few moments of discomfort.
Vaughan was beaten outside the off stump by Fernando and survived a confident appeal for an inside edge from left-armer Chaminda Vaas.
The inclement weather in London prevented play resuming at the scheduled 11am start time. And the leaden skies over St John's Wood suggested Nasser Hussain's men were in for a long wait.
But, much to the delight of Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya, no doubt, the rain receded and allowed them to add another blow to the hosts' response, following the dismissal of Marcus Trescothick in yesterday evening's gloom.