BROTHERS Andrew and Alex Collins combined for a 176-run partnership on Thursday to guide Emu Valley to a win over Portland and to a berth in the Bendigo Country Week division two grand final.
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Chasing Portland's 207 at Canterbury Park, Emu Valley cruised to 3-241 off its 50 overs in its chase.
Andrew Collins continued his outstanding Country Week carnival with 101, which backed up his scores of 58 and 75 from the previous two days.
Alex Collins finished unbeaten on 78 in what was his second half-century of the week after making 98 against Swan Hill on Monday.
The Collins' brothers took the score from 2-61 to 237 during their partnership.
Earlier in the day, Mathew Payne (53, four fours, one six) scored a half-century for Portland after coming in with his side at 5-104.
After going wicket-less his first two games, Anthony Collins was the pick of the bowlers for Emu Valley with his 4-42 off 13 overs.
With its win, Emu Valley finished on top of the division two ladder and will meet the Goulburn Murray Colts in Friday's grand final at J.L. King Weeroona Oval.
• Goulburn Murray Colts successfully defended its score of 127 against Wimmera-Mallee to win by 19 runs.
Justin Saker (48) did his best to hold the innings together for the Colts, who after being 5-87 lost their last five wickets for 40 runs.
In reply, Wimmera-Mallee fell short in its bid to win its first game when it was bundled out for 108.
Shannon Bish returned the outstanding bowling figures of 4-16 off 14 overs for the Colts, who in their second innings were 0-45 off nine overs.
No Wimmera-Mallee batting or bowling details were supplied.
• Benalla bounced back from its shocker with the bat on Wednesday to end its carnival on a high with a 34-run victory over Swan Hill.
Benalla answered Swan Hill's 139 with 3-173, led by half-centuries from Simon Holmes (65 n.o, eight fours) and Sam Hazell (52 n.o, nine fours), who shared in an unbroken stand of 99.
Earlier, Swan Hill clawed its way to 139 after being on the ropes at 5-42.
Justin Toomey (39) was the best of the Swan Hill batsmen.
The game's best performers with the ball were Benalla's Ryan Arians, who took 3-17 off 14 overs, and Swan Hill's Matt Smith (3-24).