WATCH | Luckless Proteas have Marnus Labuschagne catch controversially overturned

The Proteas were left aggrieved after an apparent clean catch at slip by Simon Harmer to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne was controversially overturned.

The incident, one of the few noteworthy events on an opening day of the third Test against Australia at the SCG dogged by bad light and rain, happened with the Klerksdorp-raised talisman on 70.

Despite the catch being referred, the umpires' soft signal was indeed out.

Yet, though the evidence for a clean catch wasn't immediately apparent, it also suggested that there wasn't enough ammunition for the on-field decision to be altered too.

Caught at slip! Or maybe not...Marnus Labuschagne is not out on 70 #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/OZ6N06fRZ6

South Africa would have the last laugh when Labuschagne edged a ripper from Anrich Nortje in what proved to be the last delivery of the day.

He ended on 79 as Australia reached 147/2 at an early close.

Day two will commence at 01:00 on Thursday.