The England Lions roared into the United Arab Emirates with a crushing display against the host team. James Tredwell was a key figure in a 52-run victory in their opening game in Sharjah.

The Lions, captained by Yorkshire's Andrew Gale, won the toss and decided to bat. The explosive batsmen of Steven Davies and newly qualified Somerset batsman Craig Keiswetter got the Lions off to a decent start, before Davies fell with the score off 38. He made a useful 21 off 15 balls.

This brought IPL new boy Michael Lumb to the crease and he showed his value with an impressive 42 off 32 balls before he was ran out.

Keiswetter made 31 off 24 balls, skipper Gales added 17 off 16 balls and the power hitting of Peter Trego, who hammered 3 sixes, made England's total very daunting for the opposition. Trego ended up with 25 off just 10 balls before being stumped.

Ian Bell, fresh from a successful tour of South Africa with the main England squad, finished not out in the end on 37 off 21 balls hitting two fours and two sixes.

England wrapped up 184-5 off their 20 overs.

UAE started well, putting on 51 for the first wicket. The introduction of Tredwell turned the game.

His three quick wickets put the game in the Lions direction. His 3-22 was essential in the match. Two wickets from Peter Trego and one from Adil Rashid ensured the Lions got off to the best possible start for the games. Man of the Match Tredwell gave the England selectors something to ponder having been included in the One-Day squad and Test Match squad for the tour to Bangladesh next month.