Brighton still in the hunt for Premier League title

Brighton and Hove need 23 points from their home game with Eastbourne next Saturday to take the hepherd Neame ECB Sussex Premier League title from Hastings who have completed their programme. They played at Crowborough on Saturday knowing that nothing less than victory could give them a chance of the crown and under far from easy batting conditions their youngsters came up trumps. Batting first, Brighton and Hove struggled to 185 all out. Patrick Spencer made the top score of 57, Steven Ades hit 31 and Matt Prior 24, all three teenagers in whom Sussex have an interest. For CROWBOROUGH Naeem Akhtar, the League's leading wicket taker grabbed 4 for 58 and Andy Cornford took 3 for 69. Crowborough, in turn collapsed to 91 all out, Chris Harrison making top score of 24 and South African paceman Andy Sartor taking 5 for 38.

Relegated BEXHILL slumped to their tenth League defeat of the season, going down by 80 runs at home to EASTBOURNE. For the visitors it was some compensation for their abortive trip to Lord's 24 hours earlier for a rain ruined National Cup Final.

David Kirtley, younger brother of the Sussex pace bowler James, hit 103 which included 17 fours and a six while Chris Topp's left arm spin was rewarded with 4 for 72. Mark Roughley, with 45, was top scorer as Bexhill tumbled to 128 all out in 39.4 overs as Paul Hacker took 6 for 58, his best figures of the season.

CHICHESTER have finished just above Bexhill but are safe as this year only one club is relegated. The West Sussex club lost their final match by just 3 runs in an exciting finish at home to HORSHAM. The visitors were dismissed for 145 after being put in as Nick Dyer took 4 for 24, top scorer was Scott Stratton, captaining Horsham for only the second time, he made 42.

Mark Nash, re-discovering his form and making a relatively rare appearance this season, took 4 for 39. The game between Three Bridges and Haywards Heath was abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch at Three Bridges.