Chichester are starting to feel the heat at the top of the premier division after tumbling to a five-wicket defeat at Eastbourne on Saturday.

Brighton and Hove moved to within two points with two games in hand following an amazing victory at Lewes Priory while Horsham are just 23 points further back after winning at Hastings, their fourth win in five weeks.

Brighton looked to be heading for defeat when they were dismissed for 190 but after Lewes had cruised to 142-1 they lost their last nine wickets for just 26 runs.

Rob Wakeford top scored for Brighton with 36 while Ray Beiber added 34 and Dominic Clapp 33 but their scoring was restricted by Rayad Emrit who took 5-43. Ian Newman and Dafydd Charles claimed two wickets each.

Emrit then made 97 in a partnership of 134 for the second wicket with Michael Murray (39) before Stephen Ades, with 5-30, and Matt Wood (4-30) pulled off a spectacular victory.

Chichester were held to 151-9 by visitors Eastbourne but it could have been far worse after recovering from 47-7.

Skipper Nick Dyer and wicketkeeper John Edwards, each with 34 not out, helped repair some of the early damage caused by Richard Smith (3-29) and John Lord (3-30) with an unbroken last wicket stand.

Sussex man Tim Ambrose led the run chase with 58 after being dropped in the slips on five. Ollie Rayner added 32 not out as Eastbourne reached their target for the loss of five wickets.

Fazl-e-Akbar, picked up 3-51 to take his tally for the season to 50 wickets.

Horsham's in-form left-arm spinner Mark Nash followed last week's eight-wicket haul with another six at Hastings to steer his side to a 54-run victory.

Acting skipper Chris Nash had earlier led the way with the bat for Horsham with 66 while Will Howard made 41 and Michael Thornley 32 in a total of 237-9 declared. Jason Finch took 3-27 and held four superb catches, while Sussex player Michael Yardy bowled 22 successive overs to take 3-73.

In reply 15-year-old opener Toby Finzell made 67 but, despite 32 from John Hancock and 22 from Chris Topp, Hastings subsided to 183 all out as Mark Nash (6-72 in 21 overs) ran riot. Chris Baker also claimed two wickets while there was one each for Will Ripley and Chris Nash.

There were plenty of runs at Three Bridges as visitors St James's raced to 271-6 with teenager George Martin hitting 71 and James Daal 46 while Danny Alderman returned figures of 5-75.

Alderman then hit 75 and Aussie Adam Denmmeade 42 to take their side to victory at 274-5 despite the efforts of Stephen Green (2-47).

A draw helped neither East Grinstead to close on the leaders nor visiting Steyning to move out of relegation trouble.

Grinstead were bowled out for 206 of which skipper Alex Edwards made 45, Paul Harrison 42, Tim Wilson 33 not out and Neil Ferreira 28. Leg-spinner Conrad Mumby grabbed 4-32, Andy Ridley 3-53 and Mohammed Amin 2-46.

Steyning then held on, just, at 178-9 of which skipper Jeremy Green made 59, Nick Colley 33 and South African Darren Smit 32. Spinner Craig Fowle was the pick of the bowlers with 5-55.