YORK’S middle-order batsmen dug them out of a hole as they recorded a 123-run victory at Rotherham Town in the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier Cricket League.

The leaders were wobbling at 50-3 after winning the toss against the bottom side but they recovered to reach 249-9 and then bowled out their hosts for 126.

Former Yorkshire pace bowler Ben Sanderson was impressive in his opening spell, twice finding Jack Leaning’s outside edge only to see both chances go to ground.

It was fellow new ball bowler, Archie Ogden, who struck first when ’keeper Chris Purshouse made it third time unlucky for Leaning.

Oliver Hairs hit three of the nine balls he faced to the boundary before being bowled by Sanderson and when Duncan Snell (22) edged behind to the same bowler, the home side were in the ascendancy.

Liam and Ryan McKendry took advantage when the opening bowlers were replaced, sharing a fourth-wicket partnership of 48 in 12 overs.

Then Ogden was reintroduced, striking with his first ball to dismiss Ryan McKendry, caught behind.

Alex Collins joined Liam McKendry and they formed the most significant partnership of the match.

As overhead cloud gave way to sunshine, Town turned to spin but neither Will Street nor David Mace were able to provide the control required through the middle overs as York’s fifth-wicket pair added 110 in 21 overs.

McKendry was first to reach fifty from 68 balls, and Collins reached the same mark from one delivery fewer.

They looked set to take the game away from their hosts until Collins, on 63, misjudged Mace’s throw from the boundary and just failed to make his ground.

Sanderson’s reintroduction sparked a dramatic period of play as he had McKendry lbw for 72, the first of three wickets to fall in the space of 15 balls, and he finished with 5-65.

The visitors were indebted to Nick Kay, who struck 26 from 16 balls to steer the total to 249-9.

Kay and Snell shared the new ball and while Kay gave little away it was Snell who proved most effective, picking up three wickets in his first four overs, including leading run-scorer James Moorhouse.

When Ogden failed to beat Ryan McKendry’s excellent pick up and throw from cover, the home side had slumped to 32-4.

Nathan Smith top-scored with 29 but after striking York skipper Daniel Woods for six, his attempt to repeat the stroke skewed high off the outside edge to Kay at point.

Woods went on to pick up a wicket in each of his first three overs as Rotherham subsided to 89-7.

A stand of 35 between Will Cooper and Mace delayed the inevitable, the former making 24 before sending a return catch to Ryan McKendry.

That was the first of two late wickets for the spinner before Woods wrapped things up when he had Mace caught in the deep by Collins.