Leaders Balcombe suffered their first defeat of the season in the Mid Sussex League against a side which had not previously won.

Ashdown Forest claimed victory with seven balls to spare of an exciting contest but Balcombe remain top of the table by three points.

Balcombe totalled 225-5 declared with Paul Elliott hitting 86 and Bob Newcombe 75. In reply, Nick Ward struck 78 and Alwyn Davey chipped in with 43 as the visitors reached their target with six wickets in hand.

Dormansland are just three points behind the leaders after their three wicket win at Staplefield which featured a thumping knock from Steve Baldock.

Recovering from 15-4, Baldock hammered 70 in just 21 balls, with his innings including eight sixes, as Dormansland overhauled Staplefield's total of 137 all out. Earlier, Steve Barker had hit 75 not out for the hosts.

Newchapel and Horne moved up to fourth place after a crushing victory over Colemans Hatch.

Grant Bateman (96) and Richard Fairhurst (80 not out) helped Newchapel post a total of 226-3 declared. Fairhurst then took 4-26, gaining support from Steve Duly (3-22) and John Thompson (3-34), as Colemans Hatch were dismissed for 94.

Ray Fuller batted a remarkable 15 overs for nought not out as Horsted Keynes held on for a draw at Hurstpierpoint.

The hosts scored 162 all out with James Bushell hitting 51 and Matt Parsons 37. For Horsted, Martin Emmerson took 5-25 and wicketkeeper Dave Lancaster held three catches.

In reply, Stuart Fuller (42) and Geoff Spicer (31) gave Horsted a good start but they collapsed from 97-2 to 98-7 with Neil Crickmore taking 4-8 and Dave Parsons 4-37. However, Ray Fuller stood firm and Horsted held on at 110-9.

Streat and Westmeston were three wicket winners at Lingfield, who had been dismissed for 120 with Andy Davison collecting 4-13. In Streat's reply, Andy Elliott took 5-33 to go with an earlier knock of 46 but the visitors reached their target with Nigel Ordway (24) top-scoring.

Plumpton totalled 176-5 at Crawley Down with Martin Brackpool scoring 52 and Nick Sheldrick 40. Terry Standen took 4-82 for Crawley Down but the match was then abandoned due to rain.

Division two: Plumpton II 126-6 lost to Edenbridge 127-2 (Andre Gaffley 50no); Smallfield 240-5 (Alan Edwards 109, Chris Glossop 57, Ken Mitchell 4-51) beat Balcombe II 239-5 (Ken Mitchell 62no, Gary Botting 44). All over games cancelled due to rain.

Division three: Bolney 190-7 (Dean Hamilton 59, Alan Jones 45) drew with Forest Row II 110-9 (Ben Collins 6-30); Burgess Hill III 167-6 (Les Hickman 60) drew with Hassocks III 196-9 (Mick McVee 56, Mike Dring 47); East Grinstead IV v Crawley Down II cancelled; Edenbridge II 183-7 (Phil Maynard 50) drew with Dormansland II 195-8 (Mark Dodwell 87, Ian Jones 43); St Andrews III 66 (Phil Marshall 4-21, John Norris 3-6) lost to Cowfold 69-3 (Matt Ayling 41no); Scaynes Hill 64 lost to St James Jacobeans 169 (John Boon 41, Paul Burnell 5-55); Streat II 89 (Les Morton 5-31) lost to Lingfield II 90-3 (Graham Green 44).