Pressure builds on Preston Nomads

Carl Simon helps Nomads to victory with 3-49

Both Preston Nomads and Horsham have four games of the season remaining to resolve the 2010 battle for honours in the Sussex Premier League with Nomads leading by 25 points.

The battle to avoid relegation has also become intense and with Eastbourne winning at home to Three Bridges, just 12 points separate Cuckfield, Hastings, Eastbourne and Three Bridges above bottom club Bexhill.

2009 Champions Preston Nomads won comfortably by eight wickets at East Grinstead while Horsham had a free week which means the title race could be decided on Saturday week when the two teams meet at Fulking.

East Grinstead were put in by Nomads and dismissed for just 111 as Carl Simon took 3-49, Stuart Faith 2-24 and Kashif Ibrahim 2-27.

Top scorer for the home side was Ian Sturmer who made 27 but then Alasdair Wilson made 44 and Jeremy Green 59 not out to steer Nomads to victory at 114 for two.

Brighton and Hove enjoyed an impressive victory at home to Bexhill whose hopes of avoiding relegation are looking slim.

Brighton made 276 for six declared of which Matt Machan hit 147 and Chris Grammer made 40, Chris Topp with 2-77 was the pick of the visiting bowlers.

The visitors then crashed to 129 all out to lose by 147 runs. Hugh Finzel with 34 was top scorer as Will Howie took 3-29 and Charlie Atherton 3-24.

Hastings held Chichester to a draw at Hornetye Park and although they are still not safe from relegation the points collected certainly helped their cause.

Visiting Chichester made 261 for nine declared of which Richard Logan made 104 and Chris Kirkham 62 as Jason Finch took 3-68, Josh Poysden 2-43 and Mick Glazier 2-65.

Richard Logan posts 104 for Chichester © Getty Images

Hastings reached 226 for eight at stumps with 56 from Dale Payne, 50 not out from Joe Lamb and 39 from Jeandre Jumat. For the visitors Jacob Whiteaker took 5-68 with his off-spin.

Eastbourne skipper Mark Tomsett led his team to 253 for seven declared after being put in by Three Bridges at The Saffrons.

With Jaco Nel helping things along with 40 not out the target was a tough one for Bridges but Danny Alderman took 3-69 and Abdul Khan 3-76 to help their cause.

But then Bridges capitulated to 198 all out with 43 from Mark Newell and 30 from Alderman but Tomsett completed a good day with 4-41 and there were two wickets each for Jaco Nel and Brad Smith.

Hastings Priory eased their relegation worries with a 37 run home victory against the Sussex Development XI at Hornetye Park.

18 year-old Tom Harvey was the Hastings hero as he cracked 12 fours and three sixes in a score of 135 while skipper Jason Finch added 32. Jack Parsons, for the youngsters, took 5-92 and Billy Collison grabbed 3-81.

In reply the Sussex Development XI reached 223 all out with 75 from Callum Guest, coming in at number 8, and 60 from Malcolm Johnson.

Veteran left-arm spinner Mick Glazier took 5-79 and there were two wickets each for Jason Finch and Josh Poysden.

The result means that East Grinstead, Cuckfield, Eastbourne and Three Bridges are all now involved in the relegation battle.

East Grinstead have 249 points but have only three games left. Cuckfield have 222, Eastbourne 211, Three Bridges 210 and Bexhill 182 all have four games left.