Horsham and Hastings are locked in a fierce battle for the Shepherd Neame Sussex Cricket League title.

Both recorded their sixth win in eight starts on Saturday and the two are separated by just six points at the top of the table.

East Grinstead had little answer to the Horsham bowlers on a good batting pitch and tumbled to 162 all out. Skipper Steve Pollard top-scored with 42 and the eventual total owed much to a last wicket stand between Craig Fowle (23) and Keith Hunt (20).

For the home side, Chris Baker grabbed 4-42.

Australian David Hussey kept his prolific run going with 79 and acting skipper Luke Marshall struck 41 not out in Horsham's winning total of 165-2 made in just 26.2 overs.

It was much closer at Hastings where the home side reached their victory target against Brighton and Hove with just two balls to spare and with eight wickets down.

Brighton rattled up 281-8 declared as Richard Luker hit 72, Patrick Spencer 44 and Stephen Ades 43. Chris Topp (3-100) gave the batsmen most trouble.

Saeed then weighed in with 77, John Snashall made 46, Tim van Noort 42 not out and Brad Smith 36 with the winning runs coming with a boundary off the fourth ball of the last scheduled over at 283-8.

Three Bridges lifted themselves into fourth place with a six wicket win at Crowborough after dismissing the home side for 160. In that total Carl Shankland hit 54 and Roger Thorogood 33 but there were five ducks.

For Bridges, their usual keeper Chris Mole took the ball for a change to take 3-40. Tom Mole then carried his bat for 59 not out as Bridges reached their target despite the efforts of Andy Cornford (3-47).

The remaining top League game produced a high scoring draw between Eastbourne and Worthing at the Saffrons where neither captain seemed prepared to risk defeat in a bid for victory.

Aussie Ben Cameron cracked an unbeaten 144 for Worthing. With Tim Dunn making 42 and Pedro Venus 32 the total of 293-8 was always going to prove a daunting in just 55 overs for Eastbourne. Paul Hacker was the pick of the Eastbourne bowlers with 5-84.

Only skipper Paul Stevens, who carried his bat for 107 not out, and Russ Varney (49) ever looked like mounting a challenge and with the Worthing bowling lacking penetration it proved stalemate.

Meanwhile, there is a close battle developing at the top of the second division with the top five teams being separated by just 24 points at the halfway stage.

St James's Montefiore remain top of the table but defeat by their nearest rivals Steyning has reduced their lead to just three points.

Stirlands, Preston Nomads, Roffey and Sidley all enjoyed victories and none of the five games were drawn.

It was a day for the bowlers on the St James ground at Ditchling where Steyning decided to bat first and were dismissed for 171 as seamer Mike Thompson took 4-22 and South African off-spinner Mark Johnson, the league's leading wicket taker, grabbed 4-56.

In reply, St James tumbled to 98 all out as former Sussex youngster Giles Haywood picked up 4-35.

Littlehampton could have closed the gap at the top even more had they not slipped to a 27 run defeat at home to Roffey.

In a Roffey total of 208-8 declared Darren Dance made 93 not out and Paul Harrison scored 42, Chris Hanks taking 4-74. The home side were then dismissed for 181 of which Geoff Cole hit 57. The match winner for the visitors was Mark Temple who took 5-60.

It was easy for Preston Nomads at Lewes Priory where they dismissed the home side for only 92 in 37.2 overs, David Thompson taking 4-35 and Patrick Garda 4-46. In the Nomads reply of 93-3 Luke Schildkamp made 51 not out.

Stirlands enjoyed a comfortable six wicket victory at Bexhill after restricting the home side to 178-9 declared of which David Munro made 44 while the evergreen David Briance took 4-57.

Sean Heather (77) and Jamie Hall (31) led the successful chase.

Veteran Tyrone Wildman (59) and a Pakistani with cricket credentials, Intikhab Alam (junior), who made 60 not out, helped Sidley to an eight wicket win over Cuckfield, who had been dismissed for just 151.