Test quick Scott Boland struck as Victoria claimed three early wickets against South Australia before steady rain put a dampener on the Sheffield Shield final.
Victoria skipper Will Sutherland sent the visitors in to bat amid threats of bad weather at Melbourne's Junction Oval on Thursday, and the decision soon paid dividends.
Boland (1-19), in his 100th Shield game for Victoria, had Mackenzie Harvey (nine) caught behind with the visitors slumping to 3-21.
Fergus O'Neill (1-9) also removed Henry Hunt (five) cheaply and Jason Sangha was out for a duck when he was trapped lbw by Sutherland (1-9).
But Nathan McSweeney (25 not out) and Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey (11no) steadied the ship, steering SA to 3-55 at lunch.
Players were gathered on the boundary ready to re-enter the field of play after the break when rain started falling.
Umpires quickly called for ground staff to bring out the covers which remained in place until play was called off for the day at about 4.30pm.
The remaining four days have been brought forward to start 30 minutes early - at 10am local time - in an attempt to make up the lost overs.
Only 28 overs were bowled on day one.
The Vics earnt hosting rights for the five-day decider after a dominant Shield season, winning seven games with just two losses and a draw.
The Chris Rogers-led side preferred Sam Elliott over Mitch Perry in a tight selection call in their bowling ranks.
Perry was runner-up to SA's Liam Scott in the umpire-judged Shield player-of-the-season award.
SA, who last season broke a Shield triumph drought dating back to 1995/96, won four games, lost two and drew four en route to the final.
The South Australians retained the same side that drew with Victoria in the last round, with legspinner Lloyd Pope unable to force his way into the starting XI.
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