Somerset star Craig Kieswetter is being tipped to make the England Test team by his county director of cricket Brian Rose.

The former England batsman has been proudly observing the 22-year-old's consistent success for the England Lions on their trip to the United Arab Emirates.

Kieswetter scored 81 from 66 deliveries as the national second-string beat Paul Collingwood's full England side by five wickets off the last ball in a tour match in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

The Johannesburg-born wicketkeeper completed his four-year qualification period this week and celebrated with two catches. One of the victims was Matt Prior, the man he hopes to relieve of the England gloves.

Kieswetter has scored 279 runs at an average of 93 on tour and has been talked about as a likely selection for the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean in May.

But it would be foolhardy to send him into a tournament without playing at international level first so a promotion before England move on to Bangladesh next week cannot be ruled out.

Yesterday the Lions restricted England – playing the first match of their trip – to 157-6 from their 20 overs after Collingwood had won the toss.

Gloucestershire's Steve Kirby took the early wicket of Jonathan Trott courtesy of Kieswetter's other catch.

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid (4-0-22-3) also impressed but Luke Wright's 42 not out from 21 balls gave England late impetus.

Kieswetter and Hampshire's Michael Lumb got the Lions off to a cracking start in reply before the latter had to retire hurt on 40 after being struck in the head by Stuart Broad.

Three wickets then fell quickly before the fit-again Lumb returned as Broad (4-0-18-1) slowed the Lions' progress.

Kieswetter, who hit two sixes and nine fours, and Pete Trego fell either side of the start of the final over.

But Lumb (58 not out) hit the final two balls, bowled by Wright, for four to give the Lions victory.

Rose said: "He (Kieswetter) has been exceptional and I think he has cemented his place at the forefront of (national selector) Geoff Miller's mind.

"The quality of his shot-making and stroke-play pushes him forward for one-day international cricket and his keeping is improving on an upward graph.

"At some stage the two lines will cross in terms of Test match cricket."

Kieswetter has been working on his glovework with ex-England keeper Bruce French. The former Nottinghamshire man has been credited with improving Prior's efforts behind the stumps.

Rose said: "The coaching set-up with England has improved a lot in the last year. (Head coach) Andy Flower's influence has been very good."

As a footnote to the Kieswetter story, Somerset will be writing to the England and Wales Cricket Board highlighting the fact that the club has effectively paid ECB around £70,000 over the last three seasons to allow them to select the youngster.

For each non-England qualified player fielded, each county forgoes a proportion of income from ECB.

Kieswetter has always held an British passport, his mother is British and he has stated his desire to play for England since arriving here in 2006.

A reimbursement would not go amiss at Taunton.