TAKING seven wickets, captain Andy Dover played a big role in earning Corbridge victory over Gateshead Ethnic Minorities.

With his haul coming at the expense of just 30 runs, Dover and co. managed to reduced their visitors to just 81 runs.

There were a few scares as Corbridge chased down the score, but they managed the total in the 41st and with two wickets in hand.

Visiting captain Tabashir Alam won the toss but his choice to bat first on a rain affected wicket surprised the hosts.

Openers Amir Mukhtar and Atif Mansoor got off to a steady start, making 23 until Russell Perry had Mansoor trapped lbw.

Mukhtar and Javed Mirza then combined to take GEMs to 46, but Dover was just finding his stride and GEMS failed to live with his bowling.

He had Mukhtar leg before, with Zhoaib Shahid out next ball when brilliantly caught down the leg side by Marcus Sewell.

Ashir Ahmed became Dover’s third victim when Chris Fowler took the catch of Ashir Ahmed, but not before an excellent piece of work in the field by Dean Robinson had Mirza run out.

The GEMs tail offered little resistance to Dover’s deliveries, Alam, Mustajab Hussain, Faizaan Ahmed and Junaid Ishtiaq all sent packing by the captain after Perry claimed his second wicket as he bowled Omer Hussain.

The innings ended with another excellent catch from wicketkeeper Sewell, standing up well to Dover’s bowling.

Corbridge endured a shaky start in reply as Dave Cox was unfortunate to depart early, soon followed by Dave Cook with the score on 1-2.

Dave Smurthwaite and Sewell looked in command as they took the score to 48, but then followed a wobble as they were dismissed in quick succession, quickly followed by the removal of Fowler.

Perry and Simon Walker added a valuable 26 but the dismissal of the former led to another sticky moment with Walker and Corey Dover following him to the pavilion.

But with just four runs needed for the win, Dover snr and Robinson made sure of the 25 points for the team.