A SECOND-WICKET partnership of 136 between Liam McKendry and debutant Chris Booth guided York safely through to the third round of the Royal London Club Championship with a convincing victory over Stockton.

The pair overcame an initially hostile and at times aggressive opening spell from the visitors’ pace attack, but having weathered the early storm were then able to prosper, both reaching half-centuries.

Having chosen to bat, the former North East Premier League champions lost both openers within the first five overs.

Tom Hewison had his stumps knocked out of the ground by Liam McKendry in the seam bowler’s first over, and Ryan Waite followed soon after when he edged a delivery from Chris Burn to ‘keeper Tom Brooks.

A partnership of 40, from nine overs, for the third wicket between skipper Kevin Ward and Matthew Gill appeared to get Stockton back on track.

But the introduction of Charlie Elliot produced a crucial breakthrough for the home side when he had Ward stumped off a wide ball.

Ramanpreet Singh made clear his intentions with three boundaries early in his innings, but a further attempt to dominate the bowling resulted in his downfall as he sent a steepling catch to Simon Lambert at mid-on off the bowling of captain Nick Kay.

Lambert, like Elliot before him, produced a wicket in his opening over with Ryan McKendry the catcher in the deep as Gill fell for 45 with the total on 87.

The visitors reached 100 in the 22nd over but, having lost five wickets, were forced into a period of consolidation.

A change of bowling again paid dividends as Tom Pringle had James Ward caught behind off the spinner’s first delivery, before a brief flurry from Christopher Hooker (21) and Peter Howells (20).

Ryan McKendry became the fourth bowler to strike in their opening over when Howells tried to hit across the line and was bowled.

The off-spinner struck again in his following over, this time catching Hooker off his own bowling.

Pringle (2-18) picked up a second wicket bowling Michael Rushforth, before McKendry (3-11) wrapped up the innings, Brooks with a fourth victim of the afternoon, when last man Singh was caught behind with the score on 149.

York’s reply began badly when Lambert fell to the last ball of the first over, caught behind off Hook er, but that proved the highlight for the fielding side.

McKendry and Booth remained unfazed throughout vociferous appealing and showed both compo - sure and solid defence to see off the opening pace attack.

McKendry eventually broke the shackles, striking three boundaries in an over off spinner Ramanpreet Singh, and moved to his 50 soon after, while Booth adopted a more cautious approach. He was happy to work the ball into gaps as the fielding began to loose its intensity.

It took the eighth bowler used, Rushforth, to finally separate the pair, ending Booth’s impressive introduction to the Clifton Park supporters when he was caught for 51 with victory in sight.

Ryan McKendry finished proceedings with a six, Liam remaining unbeaten on 78, as the home side reached their target with a dozen overs to spare and earn a third round tie at home to Chester-le-Street of the North East Premier League on Sunday, May 31.