Needing to win to progress to the final, Northern Districts, after making 133 batting first, was staring at defeat when Murray Valley had advanced to 3-91.

But in a stunning collapse, Murray Valley lost 7-9 to be all out for 100, propelling Northern Districts into Friday’s final at the QEO.

It will be Northern Districts’ first division one final, with the side to meet Castlemaine for the Neil Pollock Memorial Shield.

Northern Districts fought its way from 7-60 to reach 133 after it won the toss and batted against Murray Valley at White Hills.

Skipper Greg Dickson (37) battled hard to hold the innings together, coming in at 3-37 and not departing until he was ninth wicket to fall with the score on 117.

No.10 Adam Deccico (23) and No.9 Ryan Barnes (18) both made valuable lower-order runs for Northern Districts.

Ben Williams (4-55) was the leading wicket-taker for Murray Valley.

In reply, Murray Valley appeared to be coasting to its first victory of the carnival when it was strongly-placed at 3-91, with Daniel Vihm (35 n.o.) and Eddie Walmsley (28) both well set at the crease.

But when Peter Moore removed Walmsley, Murray Valley wilted with the bat, quickly losing 7-9.

Batsmen No.6 to 11 made just one run between them for Murray Valley as Moore (4-21) took all four of his wickets during the dramatic capitulation.

While Northern Districts has a final to look forward to, Murray Valley - which not long ago won four titles in a row between 2009 and 2012 - ended the carnival winless and will be relegated to division two.

• Castlemaine is through to its first division one final since 2008 after escaping with a five-run win over Ferntree Gully at Camp Reserve.

Castlemaine - which finished on top of the ladder - bounced back from a poor day with the bat on Wednesday to post 5-231 off its 50 overs after it was sent in.

The key partnership of the innings was an 84-run stand for the fourth wicket between Chris McKnight (70) and veteran Jamie Allan (40) that took the score from 3-66 to 150.

All seven of the Castlemaine batsmen scored double figures, among them Sam Winnard (32 n.o.) and Ben Walter (28 n.o.), who put on an unbroken 43 for the sixth wicket.

Robert Birnie (3-74) capped a consistent carnival for Ferntree Gully in which he finished with 16 wickets.

Ferntree Gully fell just short in its chase when it was bowled out with five balls left in its innings for 226.

Opener Steven Moore (54) made his second-consecutive half-century for Ferntree Gully, which had six other double-figure contributions.

In losing the game, Ferntree Gully has been denied a third-straight grand final berth.

Clinton Aldridge (3-62) and John Watson (3-56), who had a solid carnival with the ball, picked up three wickets each for Castlemaine.

• For the third game in a row, last year’s premiers Goulburn Murray won with a score of less than 150.

Goulburn Murray had to settle for third this year, ending the carnival with a 17-run win over Emu Valley at Strathdale.

Sent into bat, Goulburn Murray was dismissed in the 44th over for 144.

Jake Wright (53) and Alex Reynolds (46 n.o.) combined for 99 of Goulburn Murray’s runs.

No Emu Valley bowling details were supplied.

Emu Valley was under constant pressure in its run-chase in reply when it fell from 2-48 to later 7-79 before being bowled out in the 47th over for 127.

For the third game in a row, Rick Ladson top-scored for Emu Valley with 32 to end the carnival with 203 runs at an average of 101.5.

Alex Collins (25), Andrew Collins (22) and Scott Ross (16) were the only other players to reach double figures for Emu Valley, which finished fifth with a 1-3 record in its long-awaited return to division one.

After playing a crucial role with the bat for Goulburn Murray on Wednesday, Sam Evans dominated with the ball against Emu Valley.

Evans bagged a superb 6-39 off 18.2 overs.

• Grassmere meets Gisborne in Friday’s division two final at Eaglehawk.

The Bendigo Colts finished fifth in division two.

In the division three final at Weeroona Oval, the undefeated Grampians will take on Red Cliffs.