Skipper Jason Finch and spinner Mick Glacier played key roles as Hastings moved to the top of the Sussex premier league with victory against Chichester at Horntye Park.

Finch hit 82 as Hastings made 271-4 declared after they were put in by the visitors.

He was helped by 54 from James Beeny and 50 from Brad Smith.

Chichester lost their last wicket with just 11 balls left and were bowled out for 193. David Leaver made 52 and skipper Jez Goode 40.

Left-arm spinner Glacier grabbed 6-64 and Tim Van Noort took 4-30.

Sussex youngster Ollie Rayner was again the hero for second-placed Eastbourne against Brighton and Hove.

He took 6-27 as Brighton tumbled to 85 all out as youngsters Matt Machan made 22 and Matt Green 21.

Rayner then hit 49 not out from only 46 balls to take Eastbourne to victory at 86-2, Matt Wood took 2-8 in seven overs.

Preston Nomads crashed to 101 all out at Stirlands after being put in.

Graham Bush took 4-22 and Nathan Ball 3-15, Rob Wakeford was top scorer with 35.

Skipper Sean Heather then hit 45 and Danny Cox 35 as Stirlands won by four wickets at 102-6 from 47 overs.

Stephen Rigg took 2-10 and Rayad Emrit 2-28 in 17 lively overs.

Horsham, who share second place, found batting difficult on a damp pitch at Cuckfield but 59 from Andrew Hodd and 60 from Luke Marshall, together with a lusty 44 not out from Ansar Javed, helped them to 235-7 declared from 56 overs. Kris Sterling took 2-19 and Chris Mole 2-50.

Cuckfield started their reply slowly but a fine 112 not out from Mole and 46 from Tasmanian Jason Shelton took their side close at 227-5, Will Beer taking 3-66.

Beer, the 19-year-old Sussex leg-spinner, is having to skipper Horsham because Howard Kasey is out injured for six weeks.

He said: "It was a very even game and both teams played well and neither deserved to lose.

"The pitch was very wet at the start and I thought Andrew Hodd and Luke Marshall batted very well.

"But Chris Mole played the innings of the day and did not to deserve to be on the losing side so a draw was probably fair.

"As a team, we need to push on if we are to win the League which is very open this year.

"Sometimes we make silly mistakes and that has cost us dearly already."

Cuckfield skipper Nick Patterson added: "I was pleased to win the toss and put them in and I thought 150 would have been a winning score.

"In the end a draw was a fair result but possibly disappointing for Chris Mole. He made batting look easy with his century and probably deserved to be on the winning side.

"I honestly think we are title contenders this year but the league table doesn't show that at the moment.

"We are a difficult side to beat but, so far, we have not been able to convert that to being a winning team, "The league is very open this year, it's anyone's title."

There was a close game at Three Bridges where East Grinstead finished with nine wickets down and just 12 runs short of victory.

Bridges made 201-7 declared with 46 from Mark Newell and 37 from Danny Alderman as Stuart Simmonds took 4-46.

A fine 104 not out from teenager Matt Kleinveldt held up the home side and kept alive the vistors' hopes before time finally ran out, Danny Alderman took 3-57 and Aussie Mike Shaw 3-39.