Ashdown grabbed a second quick wicket, but had no answer to the strike force of Goodwin - he arrived at the crease with 16 overs remaining and the score at 131, prior to blitzing the boundaries, and beyond, with one big six clearing the nearby houses, and landing in the road. Park's skipper was in full flow, piling on the runs, with the Spondon attack blunted and beaten as he romped to a 105 not out.

Adams meanwhile was batting strongly, remaining unbeaten through the 50 overs, and playing a vital part in a 171 run partnership that took the visitors to their seasonal best total of 302-2.

Dave Mudd and Danny Gough, each grabbing a wicket, made early inroads, but Kellogg was digging in, with a spirited half century, and then solid middle order performances from Tainton with 41, Ashdown 56 not out and Bassett unbeaten on 30 took Spondon to 260-5 and a draw.

Park lost a couple of early wickets as the West Hallam attack exploited early life, but Adams was again working hard, turning the game around, with a solid 24, then Goodwin looked to be settled, only to fall to an Essex catch as the Silver Link Trophy holders slid to 67-4.

Dave Hartley and Steve Gough with stylish play, taking quick singles, driving the occasional boundary doubled the score in a 73 run fifth wicket stand, ended when Hartley fell to Elder's catch, for 31. Gough went soon afterwards for 37, but Dave Mudd, with a couple of big sixes, added a vital 22 not out, and Ady Shales, later to provide the champagne moment of the match, added 18 as the home side reached 201-7.

The lively Danny Gough struck early, having Essex snapped up by Goodwin and then accounted for Mace. Ogilivie, who a couple of weeks ago, had top scored for West Hallam as they defeated Park in a league match, was trapped leg before by the pacy Jonny Shales, but then it was the spinners, George Chapman (3-19) and Andy Goodwin (4-21) who tore the heart out of the visitors, who slumped dramatically from 90-4 to 99-8. A late flurry by Curtiss and Haggerty pepped their total to 136, as Park reached a final tie, against Shipley Hall, on Sunday week, at the Belper Meadows ground, by 65 runs.

Park's seconds went down by five wickets in their home Division 3S game with Derby Congs, and that after they had posted a total of 213-7. Ben Bridgen top scored with 69, as he shared a second wicket stand of 107, with Richard Green, who made 44. Ryan Hetherington added 29 and John Goodwin 18 not out, but after having the visitors at 45-3, the home side were blasted by Baines, 76 not out and Jones, unbeaten on 46, as the Congs reached 216-5 with a couple of overs to spare.

Park's fourths enjoyed a run-riot, with John Clement making a century in their Division 7S match with Castle Donington. Ollie Baum added 47, Dave Bridgen 39, Dave Stock 33, Paul Eaton 25 not out and an unbeaten 20 from Tom Poynton took the home side to 304-7, but with Wiggins digging in with a determined 42, the visitors forced the draw at 143-5.

Park's thirds were without a league fixture.