Cricket: Sussex League Round-Up

Andy Cornford grabbed 4-28, Matt Wood 3-14 and Deon Carolus 3-29 as Hastings were sent tumbling to 80 all out. John Morgan made their top score of just 17 not out.

Chris Grammer (37 not out) and Martin Adams (24 not out) then guided Brighton home.

Brighton have two games remaining but Horsham, who are in third place, have a game in hand. Eastbourne, who moved into second place, have one game remaining and cannot catch the leaders.

Horsham had seventh-wicket pair Tim Dodd (34 not out) and Craig Gallagher (68 not out) to thank for their 249-6 total against Three Bridges.

They came together with the score stuttering at 166-6 but added 83 in an unbroken stand.

Earlier, Chris Nash hit 60 and Will Howard 42 while Adam Denmeade (2-33) and Nick Creed (2-66) were the best Bridges' bowlers.

Bridges reached stumps at 231-9 as Danny Alderman made 63 and Mark Newell 57. Dodd (3-26) was the most successful home bowler.

Eastbourne enjoyed a 49-run victory over relegation-threatened Lewes Priory.

Simon Cane-Hardy (63) and Stephen George (32) helped swell the home total to 191-8 declared and Rayad Emrit (3-30) was the pick of the Lewes bowlers.

Emrit top scored with 35 and Alex Dodsworth made 30 as Lewes collapsed to 142 all out as Ollie Rayner took 4-26 and there were two wickets each for skipper John Lord and Stephen George. Wicketkeeper Ben Brown, 15, marked his debut with three stumpings.

Visitors Steyning enjoyed marginally the better of the game in an entertaining relegation battle at St James.

South African Darren Smit (101 not out) scored his first Sussex League century and shared a seventh-wicket stand of 153 with Andy Ridley (86) as Steyning recovered from 90-6.

Mike Harrison (5-66) was the pick of the home bowlers.

Malcolm Waller (59) and Ed McGregor (47), a late inclusion in the side, top scored as St James made a fight of it before finishing at 227-8 at stumps. Jason Voros took 3-58.

East Grinstead's home match with Chichester was abandoned due to a wet pitch. It effectively ended Chichester'a hopes of winning the league title.

Preston Nomads need just seven points from their two remaining games to be certain of promotion from division two.

Spinner Steve Rigg (7-18) was the star as Nomads made short work of winning at Roffey where the home side were bowled out for just 97.

Nomads reached 99-0 as Martin Andrews hit 48 not out and Hugo Shephard 40 not out.

Preston Nomads have established a 24-point lead over second-placed Littlehampton with Cuckfield a further ten points adrift.

Long-time leaders Cuckfield's promotion chances seem to have disappeared after their game at Pulborough was called off because the pitch was saturated by overnight rain.

Stirlands, now in fourth place, are only 16 points behind Littlehampton with a game in hand. They play at Cuckfield on Saturday and end their programme at Worthing on September 4.

Littlehampton suffered a surprise defeat at Haywards Heath where the home side recorded their third successive victory to climb out of the bottom two.

The visitors made 201-7 declared, of which Steve Kirkham hit 38 and Benn Challen 30, while Mike Hogue grabbed 3-46.

Heath looked to be struggling at 71-5 but skipper Gary Honeysett (63) made his highest ever league score to help his side home.

He was aided by 59 from Tom Dowdall and 30 by Mike Hogue.

Stirlands boosted their previously slim promotion hopes with an important 64-run victory at Worthing.

Dave Chauder made 76 as Stirlands hit 219 -6 declared and Worthing's Chris Mansell took 3-50.

Worthing then tumbled to 155 all out despite 38 from Matt Paul and there were two wickets each for Nick Hunt and John Phillimore.

The battle of the bottom two at Sidley saw Bexhill win by 22 runs at Gullivers.

In a meagre Bexhill score of 131-8, John Holland made 21 and Neil Broughton 21 not out. Peter King took 3-31 and Scott Woodruffe 3-14.

Chris Hunnissett (32) top scored for the hosts they could only make 109 in reply.

Bryce Turnbull took 4-46 and Adam Whittington 4-20.