York Cricket Club advanced to the second round of the ECB National Club Championship with a six-wicket win over North-East Premier League side Gateshead Fell.

The victory came largely thanks to excellent performances by brothers Liam and Ryan McKendry.

The Clifton Park side made the journey up the A1 with a side combining youth and experience, and it was the younger element who shone when the home side were put in to bat.

Gateshead Fell’s openers took the early advantage with 40 runs coming from the first seven overs as York’s bowlers struggled for consistency.

Not until Jonathan Moxon (2-30) had Richard Steele (25) caught at slip, and then followed it four overs later with his opening partner Rahim Arsalan (26), that at 54-2, were York able to get into the match.

Instead of consolidating, the hosts chose to go on the attack.

Young York wicket-keeper Ben Earl took a sharp stumping chance off Tom Pringle to account for Sam Roseby and the 73-3 score signalled a spell dominated by York’s spinners.

The younger McKendry, Ryan, proved just too hot to handle taking the next six wickets to fall.

Aided by the safe hands of Earl who added a second stumping, and fellow youngster Andrew Simpson, taking two catches, McKendry finished with 6-28 from nine overs.

With his partner taking centre stage it was left for Pringle to play the supporting role which he did superbly. His eight overs cost a mere ten runs, as Gateshead succumbed to 129 all out.

Having watched his brother dominate with the ball, Liam McKendry’s chance to shine came with the bat.

He led the York reply from start to finish. His partnership, at the top of the innings, with Duncan Snell (30) yielded 72 runs from the opening 12 overs before the first wicket fell.

Despite then losing three partners in quick succession, his sixth four saw him to his half-century.

It was fitting that his straight six to tie the scores and then a four to seal victory was watched by brother Ryan at the non-strikers end.

York’s reward is a return north next Sunday against either Chester-le-Street or Crook in round two, 24 hours after the Solly Sports ECB Yorkshire County Premier League outing to Sheffield United, which starts at noon.