Derbyshire Phantoms pulled off their highest ever successful run chase in the one-day league when they beat Surrey Brown Caps by four wickets with five balls to spare in the NatWest Pro40 at Whitgift School.

John Sadler, who made an unbeaten 33, finished the Division Two game in spectacular fashion with a swept six off Chris Schofield, condemning Surrey to their third straight defeat in this year's competition.

The real architects of Derbyshire's victory were their top three: Chris Rogers, Garry Park and Greg Smith.

Rogers made 49 off 40 balls as he set the pace in an opening stand of 78 in 11 overs with Park, who was again happy to play second fiddle in a second-wicket partnership of 98 in 14 overs with the muscular Smith.

Park was second out for 64, bowled behind his legs trying to sweep leg-spinner Schofield, but Derbyshire were still favourites when they went into the final 10 overs needing 67.

Surrey sensed the tide might be turning their way again when Smith was out in the 31st over. Having hit eight fours and three sixes in a highly entertaining 52-ball innings, Smith was dismissed for 77 to a well-judged catch by Jade Dernbach at long-off off Stuart Meaker's bowling.

The run rate crept up until 43 were needed off the last five overs but Derbyshire's seventh-wicket pair, Sadler and 19-year-old Tom Poynton, who took fours off the first and last balls of the penultimate over, reduced the target to three off the last six balls.

Surrey had lost Chris Murtagh in the fifth over, caught at the second attempt at slip by Tom Lungley, but fellow opener Michael Brown capitalised on some loose bowling from Ian Hunter, who was guilty of bowling four wides in his second over, to reach a 33-ball fifty with his 10th four before being bowled next ball.

Nantie Hayward operated with greater discipline at the other end, conceding only 11 runs from his first five overs.

Stewart Walters, the Surrey captain, was just getting into his stride when he was dismissed in the 15th over.

The ball after being badly dropped by Wavell Hinds at third man, Walters was run out for 28 attempting a single as Hayward's throw from mid-on was pinpoint accurate.

A fourth-wicket stand of 93 in 15 overs between Usman Afzaal and Schofield just about maintained the Brown Caps' momentum, although Afzaal perished tamely for 43 with a leading edge to a Park full toss that looped to cover.

Schofield had made 66 off 63 balls, only nine runs short of his one-day best score, when he slapped to cover in the 33rd over, but the Whitgift School old boys' combination of Matthew Spriegel and Laurie Evans were inspired by familiar surroundings to add 72 in the last seven overs.