Captain Rob Key was left in the lurch at Leicester today as England Lions collapsed spectacularly against South Africa.

Key made a fighting 51, from 62 balls but, with no other batsman reaching 30, his team were shot out for 184 with Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini taking three wickets apiece.

The tourists dropped four catches in the first 15 overs. But even that did not help the Lions and they even failed - by 19 deliveries - to see out their 50 overs.

South Africa rested captain Graeme Smith, keeper Mark Boucher and fast bowlers Morne Morkel and Jacques Kallis ahead of next week's NatWest Series against the full England team. But their attack - reinforced by Steyn's return from a broken thumb - still made life difficult enough for openers Joe Denly and Owais Shah.

Denly should have been caught at slip before Steyn bowled him for 10.

Shah also led a charmed life, being dropped by JP Duminy and AB de Villiers - both off Ntini.

Key then plonked consecutive deliveries from the same paceman for four and six to suggest the Lions might roar. But the introduction of Philander brought about Shah's downfall via a miscued cut to point.

After Ravi Bopara was dropped at slip by Albi Morkel off Philander the tourists' fielding finally improved when Duminy ran the Essex player out for 23.

Matt Prior then went for one and new boy Samit Patel drove his first ball straight to cover.

Key's resistance ended when he chopped on against Ntini and the Lions' last real hope of a making a big score disappeared with Luke Wright glancing Steyn too close to De Villiers.