Blackboys tightened their grip on second place in the Cuckmere Valley League after picking up maximum points in their match at Nutley.

All the other games in the division were rain abandoned but Blackboys were able to rattle up 208-3 with Nick Rogers (88) and Matthew Bradford (52) the leading scorers before hosts Nutley were dismissed for 142. Grant Olive hit 64 but Colin Turner (3-22) and Gary Funnell (2-21) did the damage.

Leaders Selmeston's 23-over match saw the hosts reach 90-8 with David Clark (41) top scoring as Sunil Patel took 3-14 while Bells Yew Green's reply had reached 57-1 (B. North 33) when the rain descended.

Burwash Weald hit 37-2 against East Dean but the game was washed out, as was the match at Firle where the hosts had put on 62-1 from 11 overs in reply to Withyham's 181-8 in 37 overs.

Preston Village made 50-0 at Alfriston but the game was then washed out.

In division two, Ridgewood were not happy after they lost their double header league and cup clash with Laughton.

Ridgewood made 251-4 (Kevin Byrne 80, Paul Gower 67 not out, Simon Aldis 58 not out) while the visitors struggled to 153-5 after 27 overs when the rain fell. Laughton won on 20-over rule having scored 60-4 off their first 120 balls in contrast to Ridgewood's innings which got off to a slow start before gaining momentum.

Only one match survived the weather in the West Sussex League.

Crawley Eagles thrashed Chichester Priory after posting an awesome 326-7 with Atif Hussain making 118 and Najam Hussain 70.

Priory were skittled out for 97 with Atif claiming 4-6 and Shahir 4-7.

Eagles secretary Ishtiaq Jalal said: "Atif was brilliant with both bat and ball. It was a faultless performance.

"Now we have a big game coming up next week against West Chiltington, who are just behind us in the table."

Mark Horscroft's well-judged innings of 79 was not enough for Fletching as they slipped to a 70-run defeat against Milstead in the last 32 of the National Village Knockout on Sunday.

The hosts, from near Sittingbourne, put on 238 in their 40 overs with Fletching only able to make 168 in reply.

Danny Alderman of Three Bridges skippers a Sussex League XI against the touring University of New South Wales at Haywards Heath tomorrow (11.30am).

The Australians were told about the cricketing delights of Sussex by county skipper Chris Adams when he was in Sydney last winter.