A NINE-WICKET victory over Scarborough earned York Cricket Club an area semi-final clash with Chester-le-Street in the Royal London Club Championship.

An unbeaten partnership of 195 between Jack Leaning and Liam McKendry saw York home against their North Yorkshire rivals at North Marine Road.

Leaning added a century to the one he scored in the previous round at Whitburn, while McKendry’s winning boundary left him unbeaten on 99.

York, who won the trophy in 2012, went into the game as favourites against a Scarborough side without a win in the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League.

Home captain Andy Simpson got off to a rapid start, taking three fours off Glen Richmond’s opening over and hitting two further boundaries in reaching 26 of 28 balls.

However, he became the first of two victims in an over for Ben Coad. With the total on 41 Simpson was trapped lbw and three balls later Kunwar Bansil edged one to Simon Lambert at second slip without scoring.

Lambert dropped opener Peter Shally off Richmond in the next over and Shally joined Chris Grey in adding 151 for the third wicket in 29 overs.

Shally reached a century off 133 balls with 14 fours, while Grey struck just three boundaries in his 80-ball 65 not out.

Ryan McKendry finally trapped Shally lbw and skipper Tom Pringle then bowled James Pick for six with the total on 207 and three overs remaining.

Thomas Bruce bludgeoned his sides only two sixes before being run out by Ryan McKendry’s direct hit from the long on boundary and the hosts finished on 235-5.

Lambert and Leaning began cautiously to see off the new ball threat of Grey and Jack Holt, but Lambert edged Holt to Simpson at slip for 13 out of an opening partnership of 41 from 12 overs.

Leaning and McKendry showed good composure as the required rate climbed above six an over. Leaning passed 50 off 70 balls and his partner reached the same mark off just 55, including a six.

Leaning finished on 109, the second half of which came at almost a run a ball, while McKendry finished with seven fours and two sixes as York got home with more than three overs to spare.

York are expected to travel to Chester-le-Street on Sunday, June 1, 1pm start.