Michael Vaughan's new career as England captain got off to a terrible start when England were bowled out in two sessions for a desperately poor score.

Butcher looked in decent form before edging a good ball Photos: More Lord's action

And it hardly helped when Graeme Smith was dropped on just eight before going on to hit an unbeaten 80 as South Africa closed inexorably on the home team's score with just one wicket down.

England's highest scorer, bizarrely, was Darren Gough (34). He and James Anderson (21 not out) put on 55 in an entertaining last wicket stand. So many other players gave their wickets away on a decent track.

Vaughan was the second highest scorer with 33 before becoming one of Makhaya Ntini's five victims just before lunch. Ntini had super figures of 5-75.

South African skipper Smith won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Marcus Trescothick survived a dropped catch by Smith in the slips when on two, but added just four more before Ntini had revenge by bowling him off the inside edge.

Mark Butcher slammed three imperious boundaries off one Ntini over but Shaun Pollock ended his skittish innings of 18 when the left-hander was taken by Hall at third slip.

The wickets kept falling. Nasser Hussain (14) was bowled by Andrew Hall, leaving a huge gate as he attempted to drive.

Quotes: Ntini proud of Lord's achievement

Anthony McGrath (4) lasted just four balls before a leading edge off Hall lobbed invitingly to Gary Kirsten on the off-side.

And just when Vaughan needed to attempt nothing rash before lunch, his innings came to an end when he hit a pull off Ntini straight to fine leg.

South Africa rejoice as yet another England wicket falls

Soon afterwards, Alec Stewart and Andrew Flintoff were both caught off Ntini's bowling while attempting undisciplined pull shots, while Ashley Giles became Hall's third victim when he was caught in the slips.

Steve Harmison was bowled for a duck by Ntini before Gough and Anderson prospered - leg-spinner Paul Adams was twice hit for six by Gough.

The innings came to an end however when Gough skied Pollock to mid-off for Adams to take his third catch of the day.

Hussain was the culprit early in South Africa's reply when he spilled a straightforward chance at cover-point off Anderson which would have seen Smith in the fourth over.

And England had to wait a long, long time before finally claiming some success, when Harmison bowled Herschelle Gibbs for 49 off the inside edge.

By then he had put on 133 for the first wicket with his captain who was hit a nasty blow by Flintoff on his hand just before stumps.

England: Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan (captain), Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain, Alec Stewart, Anthony McGrath, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Darren Gough, James Anderson, Steve Harmison.