The Bendigo District Cricket Association will remain in Melbourne Country Week division two after losing its semi-final on Thursday.
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The BDCA'a unbeaten run through the preliminary rounds counted for little after Ferntree Gully cruised to an eight-wicket win at Princes Park.
The BDCA looked in the box seat to advance to Friday's division two final, and an automatic return to Provincial group next year, when it posted 6-256 off 50 overs.
Ferntree Gully's English import Aaron West had other ideas.
The opening batsman plundered 118 off 113 balls to guide his side home in the 39th over.
Blake Walter (76 not out off 62 balls) and opener Peter Dunlop (47 off 52 balls) also feasted on the BDCA attack.
"Sometimes you just have to give credit where credit is due... Ferntree Gully outplayed us,'' a disappointed BDCA coach Wayne Walsh said.
"To be honest, we didn't do a lot wrong today. They (Ferntree Gully) batted very well.
"We put down one half-chance early off Dunlop and maybe the bowlers were a bit full at times, but overall it was a case of Ferntree Gully batting very well."
To rub salt into the BDCA's wounds, West Gippsland defeated Shepparton in the other semi-final to advance to Friday's division two grand final against Ferntree Gully at The Albert ground.
The BDCA thrashed West Gippsland by 135 runs earlier in the carnival.
West Gippsland and Ferntree Gully will play in Provincial group in 2019, while Ballarat and Murray Valley will join the BDCA in division two after being relegated from the top section.
"Our goal for the week was to get back to Provincial for next year, but unfortunately we didn't tick that box,'' Walsh said.
"We played some good cricket throughout the week, but with the way the carnival is set up it only takes one bad day (to hurt you).
"The players should be proud of the way they played their cricket."
Cory Jacobs rounded out a fine carnival by top scoring with76 off 91 balls in the semi-final.
Jacobs and Sam Johnston (45 off 34 balls) added 95 for the first wicket in quick time to set up the BDCA for a big score.
Teenager Zane Keighran (50 off 90 balls) made his second-straight half-century to give him 163 runs at his first MCW carnival.
Dylan Gibson (38) and Ben DeAraugo (20) played their part to lift the BDCA past the 250-mark, but the way Ferntree Gully batted 300 wouldn't have been enough for the BDCA to defend.
Friday’s Provincial group grand final will be played at the Junction Oval between Mornington-Peninsula and Sale-Maffra.