MATT Bibby came to the rescue for Mistley as they beat Rowledge by three wickets in the last 16 of the Persimmon National Village Knock-Out on Sunday.

Mistley, the Essex/Suffolk group winners, restricted their visitors to 165 for eight from their 40 overs. It was a disciplined bowling display with two wickets each for Darran Marks, Paul Garwood and Daniel Goff and one each for Jon Manning and Damien Smith.

In reply Ben Allday’s 48 kept Mistley in the hunt, with smaller contributions from openers Michael Griggs, Paul Garwood and Stuart Dove.

But it was Bibby’s 51 that took Mistley to within sight of victory, which came in the penultimate over thanks to Manning’s unbeaten 14.

Next up for Mistley will be Sussex side Rottingdean, who beat Bidborough from Kent by 79 runs on Sunday after scoring an impressive 238 for eight.