Horsham have returned to the top of the Shepherd Neame Sussex Cricket League after winning by five wickets away to nearest rivals Hastings on Saturday.

The championship chase has become virtually a two-horse race although Crowborough and Brighton and Hove both enjoyed victories at the weekend to keep themselves in touch.

The use of a pitch played on during the week for a county second XI game at Horntye Park helped Horsham left-arm spinner Mark Nash to take 7-73.

Hastings were dismissed for 215, having won the toss. In that total, Amir Saeed made 46 and John Morgan 32.

Seventeen-year-old Andrew Hodd then hit 89 not out, and fellow Sussex Young Cricketer Chris Nash made 43 not out to take Horsham home at 216-5 after some early shocks as left-arm spinners James Chaplin and Chris Topp each took two wickets.

A brilliant innings of 130 from South Australian Ben Cameron failed to save Worthing from a seven-wicket defeat at Crowborough, for whom Pakistani Naeem Akhtar had a fine all-round game.

Cameron's innings was the highlight in a Worthing total of 248 all out as Akhtar took 3-51 and Carl Shankland grabbed 3-90.

The Crowborough skipper, Andy Cornford, hit 64, and Akhtar made 79 not out to take the home side to a seven-wicket win and leave Worthing only just outside the relegation zone.

Brighton and Hove have jumped into the top four after winning by 78 runs at Three Bridges, where they made 297-8 declared.

In that total, Martyn Adams struck 65, and Neil Marchant made 50 as young leg-spinner Conrad Mumby took 5-48 for Bridges.

Despite Phil Stanbridge making 47, Krishna Singh 46 and Nick Creed 44, the home side were then dismissed for 219, Patrick Spencer taking 3-36 and Andy Sartor 3-64.

East Grinstead had slightly the better of the game between the bottom two clubs at Haywards Heath.

They recovered to make 267-9 declared after at one time being 103-5. Peter Mills was their batting hero with 107 not out, while Tim Cruickshank grabbed 4-81 for the home side.

Early wickets saw hopes rise for the bottom club, but Haywards Heath recovered to hand on at 220-8 as Darryl Williams made 59, Jamie Carpenter 39 and Andrew Beer 28.

For Grinstead, Alex Edwards took 2-58 and Paul Turk 2-30.

The points gained were enough to take Haywards Heath out of the bottom two as Chichester suffered a seven-wicket defeat against Eastbourne, who have now virtually assured their safety from relegation.

The start at Priory Park was delayed after Eastbourne were held up by two major road accidents and took some three hours to make their journey across the county.

The home side then made 202-8 declared with Danny Oliver top scoring with 67, Brett Whiteaker making 37 and Paul Hacker taking 5-70.

Sussex youngster Tim Ambrose then hit 101 not out to take Eastbourne to their fourth win of the season at 205-3 from 49.2 overs. Paul Stevens made 31, and Chris Wall was the pick of the home bowlers with 2-28.