Crawley Eagles III are set to claim the West Sussex League Division One championship, a year after their first XI collected the trophy.

Eagles won the title last season before their top two sides left to join the Invitation league.

Nevertheless, the Crawley side's third team have continued their clubmates' form and they took a massive step nearer the title themselves with a win against Ram.

Ram batted first and were all out for 173, including a 70-run fourth-wicket partnership from skipper Viren Patel and Girish. Ali claimed 5-44.

In reply 19-year-old Tahib made 72 not out and formed a 100-run partnership with Ali.

The win takes Eagles eight points clear at the top with a game in hand and one win from their two final matches will seal the title.

Skipper Ijaz Akbar said: "It was a really tough game because Ram were charged up and got there an hour early to practice their fielding.

"When we were 15-4 it didn't look good, but we recovered well and we are confident of winning at least one of our last matches."

The defeat ended a eight-game winning streak for Ram and snuffed out their own title ambitions.

West Blatchington are resigned to finishing runners-up for the second successive season, but they at least ended the season with a win.

Blatch beat Blackstone in emphatic fashion after posting 170-7 at home. Robert Strickland (109 not out) enjoyed a prosperous partnership with Duncan Workman for the eighth wicket after the hosts were struggling on 70-7.

In reply Blackstone were all out for 93, Steve Giggins claimed 5-33.

Blatch skipper Sunny Agnihotri revealed that his side were applying to join the Invitation League and admitted he considered the season to be a failure.

Worthing Chippingdale took first strike against a nine-man Palmers side and Ben Stone (58) and Russ Harding (34) batted solidly.

Adrian Croft, batting at four, made 32 but then the innings stalled until tailenders Ollie Hall (17 not out) and Gul Fiaz (10) added some useful runs to help post a total of 178-9 from 45 overs.

In reply Palmers' opener Nick Buckley made 23, Peter Powell (31) and Justin Thorne (31) before they were all out for 147 in 43 overs.

Thorne said: "We only had nine players due to people dropping out and holidays. We thought we had a chance if we limited them to below 220 but it is hard with nine players because you don't go for your shots as much."

Middleton stay fourth after beating Findon III at home.

The hosts were all out for 126, Arthur Bradbury scored 48. Pat Woodward claimed 3-23 as Findon made 123 in reply.

Hove Medina lost narrowly at home to Patcham in a very entertaining match. The visitors batted first and made 232-5 thanks to Brian Huffer (94) and M. Huffer (45). Barry Thompson took 3-55.

Medina were 223-9 in reply, Jim Downey (58), Steve Hartridge (46) and Neil Soffe (41) all weighed in with runs but ended up on the losing side.