Palmers are justifying the stay of execution granted them by the West Sussex League.

The Brighton side were meant to be relegated last season following a poor campaign but they preserved their division one status after Brighton and Hove III disbanded.

Bill Sayburn's charges have made the most of their lifeline. Palmers are eighth in the table following an impressive win at Lancing Manor which ended a run of four consecutive defeats.

Manor were all out for 180 (Miles Scerri 54) as opening bowler Nick Buckley displayed great line and length to restrict the home team. Wicketkeeper Justin Thorne took two catches.

In reply Palmers scored 181-3 thanks to Peter Powell (72), Ollie Ferns (42) and Guy Seaborn (34).

Thorne said: "We were back to full strength on Saturday and it showed. We like to keep in the top half and justify the league letting us stay in the division."

West Blatchington skipper Sunny Agnihotri accused his side of complacency following their surprise defeat at Dome Mission.

The table-toppers suffered their first loss of the season, and only their second reverse in two years, as they lost by 11 runs. Blatch bowled Mission out for 118, with Ahmed, making his first team debut, taking 4-28. In reply, Blatch lost wickets at crucial times and ended up 11 short of the target.

The only resistance came from Sunny Agnihotri who made 26. Mission's Richard Rigg took 4-12.

Agnihotri said: "We were without three key players and let them get 30 runs too many. However, we should have got the runs, we showed far too much complacency. The good thing is that Crawley Eagles lost as well so that keeps the title race alive."

Three Bridges III closed the gap on the leaders with their home victory over Hove Medina. Bridges recovered from the loss of three early wickets to rattle up 260-8, with 75 apiece from Richard Jenner and 19-year-old South African Robert Cooper. Medina were all out for 110 as Jordan Sriharan took 2-27 after earlier making 24.

Skipper Steve Hill was pleased with the win but stopped short of tipping his side for the championship.

He said: "I'd like to think we can win the league but Crawley Eagles are favourites because they have games in hand.

"We keep losing players to our first and second teams and that makes it difficult. I think we are doing pretty well but it will be hard for us to get enough points unless the others slip up."

Eagles III suffered a surprise drubbing by Middleton. The home side made 170-9 (Simon Lush 44, Awais 4-25). In reply Eagles were dismissed for 86 with James Lush taking 4-20.

St Matthias went into their game against Shoreham in confident mood having beaten old rivals Hove Medina in their previous game. Their good form continued with Saints enjoying an impressive ten-wicket win.

Having lost the toss, Matthias put on an outstanding display in the field to dismiss the home side for 75.

The bowling was top class with John Adams delivering some excellent inswinging yorkers to take 3-8. Steve Wren (3-14) weighed in too. In reply St Matthias' openers, Niall Smith (29 not out) and Steve Mander (36 not out) knocked off the total in 13 overs.

Chippingdale sunk Blackstone thanks to a virtuoso performance from off spinner Tim Hall who took 6-19 and then hit the winning runs. Hall put on a devastating burst in 23 deliveries and turned the ball to help dismiss the visitors for 36.

Hall's scalps included a catch superbly taken by Russ Harding and another by Riaz.

This followed a slow start from Blackstone as Dave White and Gul Fiaz bowled tightly. Hall was brought on as first change for the 12th over with the score on 14 from 11 overs. White returned 10-6-10-1 while Fiaz conceded six runs from his five overs. Ollie Hall then finished off the tail in 4.2 overs taking the last two wickets for three runs.

In reply Jerry White hit three boundaries in his 20 and Russ Harding (6) skied one before Tim Hall hit the winning runs before tea.

Findon III remain second from bottom following their home defeat to Ram. The home team won the toss and elected to bat.

Skipper Steve Duffield made 62 and Tom Pattinson hit a quick-fire 28 to steer his side to 202-9. Kartik took 4-41.

However the visitors knocked off the runs for the loss of five wickets to close on 203-5. Mick Tindall was the pick of the Findon bowlers with 3-51. Tarun made 54 and Kartik 33 for Ram.

Duffield admitted he was impressed with the visitors' batting after setting what he considered a decent total.

He said: "They do like to bat, they were a bit cocky but they are a good bunch of lads. I thought we had a chance but their batting was too strong.

"I was pleased with my team. It was a good effort and we gave away a lot less extras which was a vast improvement. We need to see more of the same if we are to get out of trouble."