Goulburn Murray's comfortable win over Emu Valley, combined with Gisborne's shock defeat to Northern Districts, means second place and a date with Murray Valley in Friday's finals is up for grabs going into Thursday's last round of matches.

Gisborne faces the daunting task of playing Murray Valley at Canterbury Park, while Goulburn Murray tackles Northern Districts at Dower Park.

Murray valley could mathematically still miss the final if Gisborne and Goulburn Murray secure huge wins, but that appears unlikely.

Northern Districts was the story of Wednesday.

Winless going into round three, Northern Districts looked set for loss number three when it fell to 3-37 chasing Gisborne's imposing target of 7-233 at White Hills.

Northern Districts opener Tyler Jones produced a brilliant innings to rescue his side.

Jones belted 128 and was invovled in crucial partnerships of 75 with Greg Dickson (30) and 105 with Brad Griffiths (32).

Jones fell with his side 14 runs short of victory and Northern Districts lost 4-4 around him to slip from 4-217 to 8-221.

The ninth wicket fell with the score on 231 leaving number 10 James Keath and number 11 Logan Spittal to score the final two runs to clinch victory.

Gisborne opening bowler Darcy Nolan took 4-34 off eight overs to be his side's best bowler.

Earlier in the day, makeshift opener Cameron Clayton (66), veteran Warren Else (60), Nathan Dantonio (44) and Haydn Ross (40) batted well for Gisborne.

Spinners Brad Windridge (2-24) and James Keath (3-34) played critical roles with the ball for Northern Districts.

Goulburn Murray bounced back into contention thanks to its 71-run win over Emu Valley at Bell Oval.

Michael Hill was the star of the day for Goulburn Murray, belting 121 of his side's total of 7-259.

Batting at number four, Hill made 121 off 109 balls including nine fours and seven sixes.

He added a quickfire 133 for the fifth wicket with Alistair McCann (47 off 48 balls).

Jeremy Hancock claimed a five-wicket haul for Emu Valley. The Mandurang paceman took 5-54 off nine overs.

Emu Valley's run chase started brightly, but quickly faded.

Openers Matt Dwyer and Scott Ross (17) scored at a frantic pace early, but once they departed the air was taken out of the EVCA sails.

Dwyer made 46 off 29 balls and Greg Thomas made a patient 45 off 98 balls as Emu Valley finished the day at 9-188.

Cameron Sharp changed the momentum of the game with a great spell of bowling. He finished with 3-18 off 12 overs, while McCann had figures of 2-14 off nine overs.

Murray Valley made it three wins from as many games when it thumped Castlemaine at Wesley Hill.

Opener Riley Gow's 84 off 102 balls was the backbone of Murray Valley's total of 203 all out.

James Chaffey took 4-27 with the ball for Castlemaine, while Glen Meredith claimed 3-48.

Within the blink of an eye Castlemaine were 3-5 after Murray Valley opening bowler Ash Quinn tore through the top-order.

Opener Brad Richardson was the only player to show some fight with the bat. He hit five fours and four sixes and was last man out for 60 off 77 balls.

Murray valley spinner Liam Evans took 5-41 in Castlemaine's total of 87 in 31.2 overs.

Murray Valley took advantage of a second innings, posting 4-66 off 15 overs.

In division two, Wangaratta and Colac are unbeaten heading into their round four clash at Harry Trott Oval.

Wangaratta staved off Portland by nine runs in a thrilling encounter at Canterbury Park.

Tom Nightingale top scored with 57 in Wangaratta’s total of 8-218.

Portland opener Jake Wilson made 77 off 107 balls and Josh Atwell added 52 off 42 balls, but it wasn’t enough to get their side over the line.

Colac overcame a top-order batting collapse to defeat Maryborough at Weeroona Oval.

Chasing Maryborough’s total of 160, Colac were 5-54 and then 6-79 before a match-winning partnership developed between Cullan Spence and Jarrod Alberts.

Spence made 62 and Alberts chipped in with 32 as Colac passed Maryborough’s score seven wickets down.

Maryborough’s Jayden Templeton(4-31) had the best bowling figures of the match.

Grassmere celebrated its first win of the carnival when it defeated Red Cliffs at Harry Trott Oval.

Travis Landells (58) and Mark East (41) appeared to have put Red Cliffs (9-232) in a winning position with the bat, but Grassmere had other ideas.

Four of Grassmere’s top five batsmen posted half-centuries, including a fine 102 not out from skipper Patrick Mahony.

Mahony faced 109 balls and hit 11 fours and two sixes.

Brendan Chatfield (85 off 114 balls), Phil Edwards (68 off 43 balls) and Braden Hotker (52 not out off 27 balls) took a liking to the Red Cliffs’ attack as Grassmere finished 3-317 off 50 overs.

The grand final berths in division three will go down to the wire, with any two of teams capable of qualifying for Friday’s decider.

The unbeaten Grampians Colts hold pole position at the top of the table, with Bendigo Colts in second place on the same win-loss record as Northern United, Swan Hill and Colac Colts.

Bendigo Colts meet Colac Colts in round four, while Grampians Colts plays Grassmere Colts, Swan Hill tackles the winless Wimmera-Mallee and Northern United takes on Upper Loddon.

Grampians Colts won the top-of-the-table game against Northern United at Raywood in round three.

Joe Gibson (52) and Jarrod Blandford (47) batted well in Grampians score of 190. Spinner Chris Guinane took 4-22 for Northern United.

For the first time this week Northern United’s top-order failed to fire and at 7-73 the game looked done and dusted.

Kale Hoggins (60 not out) and Scott Lawry (30) gave Northern United a glimmer of hope, but once Lawry departed the tail crumbled and the NUCA fell 26 runs short of victory.

Bendigo Colts produced a well-timed run chase to reel in Wimmera-Mallee’s total of 208 at Strathfieldsaye.

Kangaroo Flat’s Jamie Dass (58), White Hills’ Jack Bourke (32) and Bendigo’s Will Collicoat (29) did their job with the bat before Flat’s Riley Burns (16 not out) and Sandhurst’s Will Keck (12 not out) added 27 runs for the ninth wicket to see Bendigo Colts over the line.

Earlier in the day, Bendigo United’s Tom Starr took 4-22 for BDCA Colts, while Lachlan Jones top-scored for Wimmera-Mallee with 57.

In other games, Swan Hill (9-249) continued its good form by thrashing Upper Loddon (73) and Colac Colts  (6-186) kept its grand final hopes alive by defeating Grassmere Colts (158).

Ladders after round three: Division one – Murray Valley 49.45, Gisborne 37.29, Goulburn Murray 35.70, Emu Valley 22.31, Northern Districts 21.62, Castlemaine 10.71.

Division two – not available.

Division three – Grampians Colts 48.17, Bendigo Colts 37.94, Northern United 36.59, Swan Hill 36.00, Colac Colts 35.29, Grassmere Colts 13.65, Upper Loddon 11.93, Wimmera-Mallee 9.61.

Draw for round four: Division one – Gisborne v Murray Valley at Canterbury Park, Emu Valley v Castlemaine at Strathfieldsaye, Northern Districts v Goulburn Murray at Dower Park.

Division two – Wangaratta v Colac at Harry Trott Oval, Red Cliffs v Portland at Bell Oval, Grassmere v Maryborough at Maryborough.

Division three – Colac Colts v Bendigo Colts at Golden Square, Grassmere Colts v Grampians Colts at Huntly, Swan Hill v Wimmera-Mallee at North Bendigo, Upper Loddon v Northern United at Heathcote.