Chart-toppers Crawley Down made light work of a Preston Nomads III total of 198-9 as Warren Barker (81no) Wil Irwin (55) and Steve Ward (42no) led them to a nine-wicket win in 28 overs. Second-placed Ashdown Forest were 47-run victors at Balcombe, while Streat were awarded a walkover by bottom club St Francis. Colemans Hatch picked up maximum points at Poynings, where Geeth Withanagamage (5-22) and Steve Pollard (70) set up a five-wicket win. Palmers won by two wickets at Edenbridge. The top two met in Division 2 and the game ended in a tie. Leaders East Grinstead III bowled out visitors Dormansland for 124 but were then dismissed for the same score as Michael Phillips claimed 6-26. Bolney went second after winning by five wickets at Balcombe II, who were sent crashing to 88 all out as Jack Collins took 5-28. Hurstpierpoint were six-wicket winners at Cuckfield III, who succumbed for 107, while in contrast there were nearly 500 runs scored at Horsted Keynes as they beat Staplefield by three wickets. Smallfield’s last pair denied hosts Chailey after an opening stand of 105 between Danny Andrews (102no) and Willie Boone (68) had helped set a target of 244-3. After six wins out of six, Division 4 pacesetters Ditchling III were finally denied by second-placed Palmers II in a high scoring draw. Ellis Dickson (68no) and Alfie Brand (60) led Palmers to 238 all out and then Jez Stevens struck an undefeated 112 as the leaders replied with 190-6. Streat II seized the chance to make up ground on the top two as they took maximum points at home to Lindfield IV. There were half centuries from Gavin Hall and Pete Davidson in the 71-run victory. Neil Jackson (100no) hit his maiden league ton as Crawley Down II rattled up 232-5 in 43 overs but then Cuckfield IV dug in to finish on 68-6 in 47. Cowfold beat Edenbridge II in a low scoring game, while the other game was drawn as fifties came from Graham Stevenson (70no for SJM III) and Lingfield III pair Neil Wallace (61no) and James Abdool (52).
