The race for the Shepherd Neame Sussex League championship has been thrown wide open by a surprise defeat for champions Hastings Priory by Haywards Heath.

Rivals Brighton and Hove are just 39 points behind the leaders with three games to play. Hastings have just one fixture left.

Hastings made up for lost time after rain delayed the start against Heath, George Campbell hitting 78 and John Snashall 76 in a 250-6 score But Sussex batsman Jamie Carpenter hit 82 not out, Doug Frame made 64, Carl Hopkinson 45 and acting skipper Hugo Southwell 36 not out in a 251-3 reply.

Horsham easily beat lowly Bexhill by 153 runs. Only a mathematical miracle can now save Bexhill from relegation.

Andy Beer (84 not out) and Alan Law (90) added 158 for the fifth wicket after Horsham had slumped to 77-4 and got maximum batting points at 256-6 declared.

Chris Baker, making his first team League debut, took 4-25 and Shane Jurgensen, in his last game before returning to Tasmania grabbed 3-24 for Horsham Crowborough crashed to 85 all out chasing a Three Bridges total of 250-9 declared.

Jibram Khan hit 69 not out, Chris Mole 66 and Nick Creed 40 Naeem Akhtar took 4-56.

Akhtar top scored with 19 in a meagre reply and Creed was the pick of the bowlers with 4-27.

The battle for promotion from Division Two promises to go right to the wire.

East Grinstead's eight wicket win at Littlehampton has taken them a point clear of Worthing who were beaten by 84 runs at Sidley.

Martin Pallant hit an unbeaten 105 for Littlehampton but finished on the losing side .

Pallant hit 16 fours and one six in a 195-6 total. Grinstead reached 197-2 from 43.4 overs, skipper Steve Pollard making 86 not out.

Previous leaders Worthing struggled to contain the Sidley batsmen as the home side rushed to 236-3 declared as Paul McDonald hit 82 and Senyo Nayakutse made 62.

Jonathan Haffenden, just 16, took 4-26 as Worthing slipped to 152 all out.

Stirlands moved into a challenging position after their 58 run victory at St James.

Jamie Hall hit 87 not out and Sean Heather 52 as Stirlands reached 192-6 dec.

St. James were then dismissed for 134, Danny Cox taking 4-34.

Preston Nomads won by 135 runs at home to Lewes Priory after rattling up 216-8 declared with Simon May hitting 64 not out. Lewes collapsed to 24-7 but were eventually bowled out in the very last over, the 42nd, for 81.

Steyning enjoyed their first win in ten weeks with a comfortable eight wicket victory at home to luckless Middleton.