UNBEATEN Blue Flames needed just three runs to maintain their impressive start to the Premier Division, but were denied by an eye catching Corbridge display.

After Dean Robinson took centre stage with six wickets, captain Andy Dover returned to the attack for a third spell and claimed the wicket of Mirza Balal Baig with his first ball to secure a notable victory for the Tyne Valley side.

Corbridge were asked to bat first by the visitors to The Stanners, with Dave Smurthwaite and Dave Cox taking to the crease first.

While Cox fell first for a steady nine, Smurthwaite was more patient and made his way to 25 until he was bowled by Amir Riaz with the score on 62-2.

Russell Perry and Chris Fowler came and went, bringing in Marcus Sewell who held the innings together with an impressive stay in the middle.

He remained in bat for the remainder of the innings, assisted by his skipper along the way. Also helping Corbridge get to their final total of 14 was Robinson, Simon Walker and Jeremy Scott.

Sewell’s unbeaten knock of 42 included just two boundaries, the youngster steadily racking up the runs.

Perry and Dover’s opening spells restricted the Flames’ opening batsmen, but Ijaz Khan and Nasir Amin soon started to open up and put on a second wicket stand of 70.

The dismissal of Khan, lbw to Robinson, brought about the breakthrough with Amin going to a catch from Cox off the bowling of Fowler soon after.

Riaz tried to keep ticking the score on, but he was struggling for partners as Corbridge’s bowlers cranked up the pressure.

Robinson claimed a further two wickets and Fowler one more, to see Flames struggling along at 107-6.

A fourth wicket for Robinson came soon after before he took the important scalp of Riaz, giving Cox his third catch of the afternoon.

A combination of Amin Ul Faisal, Baig and Andrew Horner edged the visitors towards their goal, but captain Ul Faisal was stumped by Sewell to give Robinson his sixth wicket and Dover finished it off with the dismissal of Baig with the first ball of the 47th over.

Corbridge travel to Ashington Rugby at the weekend.