The visitors opted to bat first and made steady progress in reaching 99-2 at the 25-over drinks interval.

Uncharacteristic lapses in the field seemed likely to be costly for Chesterfield as Spondon moved on to a promising 153-3 with 11overs remaining.

At this point Ollie Baum (54) holed out to the bowling of Simon Lacey who had relied on clattering the stumps for his earlier two wickets.

Baum's departure heralded the start of a mini-collapse with a further three wickets falling for the addition of 13 runs as Brian Gladwin completed his parsimonious spell of 15 overs with two quick wickets and the mounting pressure resulted in a run-out as the batsmen sought a third run from a mis-field.

The return of the opening bowlers restricted the lower order and accounted for Joe Ashdown (53) who had been in danger of running out of partners as Spondon finished with a 50-over total of 202-9.

Lacey (3-60), Gladwin (2-49), Ross Whiteley (2-43) and Peter Camm (1-47) shared the bowling and the wickets, as well as the disappointment of catches going down.

Alex Hibbert moved serenely on to his seventh 50 of the season and with determined support from the other end and a copious supply of wides Chesterfield had reached the comparative comfort of 113-1 at the mid-innings drinks.

But wickets started to fall as the deteriorating light became a factor, culminating in the loss of Hibbert for 89 when the total was on 169-5 and Chesterfield still in need of 34 to win off nine overs.

The win was now at risk with the impending threat of rain becoming more ominous as time was lost to elaborate field changes and the umpires' intervention to discuss the light and Spondon's behaviour in the field.

Amid the deepening gloom and the onset of drizzle, Whiteley (33no) and Camm (11no) carved out 36 runs off 26 deliveries in a courageous display that brought Chesterfield a win in the nick of time as the arrival of rain coincided with the winning boundary.

Chesterfield leapfrog Spondon into third place and travel to Elvaston on Saturday hoping to make up ground on the two leading sides who are matched against each other.

Chesterfield 22pts, Spondon 6pts

Chesterfield 2nd XI 222-5,

Pilsley 1st XI 211 all out

(Derbyshire County League 2N)

Chesterfield compiled a sound 222-5 at Pilsley on Saturday with major contributions from Rob Hiron ((57), Michael Deane (51no) and Tim Kirk (36no).

Pilsley looked on course for a comfortable victory as Saeed Bin Nasir bagged his tenth century of the season.

But Paul Goodwin bowled the Pakistani run machine for 141 and the injured Chesterfield paceman proceeded to demolish the Pilsley lower order, taking four wickets in four overs.