Arslan Khan struck a tremendous 67 and took a last over hat-trick as Greenwood Park thrashed Harpenden IV’s by 194 runs.

The all-rounder made batting look easy where others struggled, hitting 10 fours, as he accelerated Park’s innings to a huge 278-9 in 50 overs.

Then with the ball Khan took three wickets in as many balls in what turned out to be the final over, as his side bowled out the visitors for 84 inside 26 overs.

Having won the toss Captain Chris Kent elected to bat but the home team got off to a poor start with Vishal Pujari out for 0 in the second over.

There was however a strong, if not scrappy, 88 run partnership between Ed Gray and Kent that grabbed control for Park before the former fell for a less than fluent 39.

Kent would eventually go for 58, his second half-century this year, and his dismissal sparked a mini collapse as Greenwood lost three wickets for six runs.

At 130-5 the game was in the balance but Khan and Jimmy Otter contributed 59 for the sixth wicket as Park rebuilt and started looking at a big score.

With Khan despatching the ball to all parts, the lower order also added vital runs, Stu Dempsey in particular making a quick 24 as Greenwood posted a huge 278-9 in 50 overs.

With the ball, Vinil Palai struck early but a solid 42-run partnership for the second wicket gave Harpenden small hope of an unlikely victory.

But once again Park’s attack proved too much for the opposition, taking 6-31 as they decimated the Harpenden middle order.

Ajmal Hussain collected a relentless 2-23 from ten and Troy Petchey finished with outstanding figures of 3-15 from six, including three maidens.

There was a unconventional but effective run-out from Dempsey as Greenwood rounded on the win, before Khan put the icing on the cake with a tremendous hat-trick as his side claimed 30 points and set up a potential title decider against Potten End next weekend.