Invitation League: Ifield are the new leaders in division one and skipper Graeme Dean insists the best is yet to come.

The Crawley-based side are three points clear of Arundel after a comfortable six-wicket win against rock-bottom Clymping.

The visitors were restricted to 140-8 after good bowling by Clint Hewson (3-35) and Gareth Christian (3-9). Only Richard Green offered much resistance, with an unbeaten 41, in the Clymping innings Ifield struggled to 70-4 until Aamer Riaz (45 not out) came in at number six to join opener Simon Hickey (58 not out) and guided them to victory.

Dean is delighted to be top of the league for the first time this season but says his side have not yet fulfilled their potential.

He said: "Although Clymping are struggling, it was a must-win game for us because it was important to carry on the momentum and keep up with Arundel.

"It is great to say we are top of the league and, although I'm not going to say we will win it, I think we are in with a chance.

"Four or five weeks ago I thought we weren't good enough but the way we have been playing lately makes me think why not?

"I know we have not played our best cricket so far this season because we have not taken all our chances. There is a lot left in us, so hopefully the best is to come."

The result was another blow for Clymping after discovering this week they have been deducted 30 points by the league disciplinary committee for comments made to an umpire during the game against Goring in May.

Clymping captain Karl Pierce believes the incident has been blown out of proportion.

He said: "We are bottom of the league and need all the points we can get. It is farcical, in my opinion, and has been blown out of proportion. There was a bit of heckling, which happens in every game, but obviously the league thinks otherwise."