MURRAY VALLEY will head into its third-consecutive Bendigo Country Week division one grand final on Friday with an unblemished record.

Murray Valley put the finishing touch on its preliminary matches on Thursday, defeating Wangaratta by four wickets at Kangaroo Flat.

After being sent into bat, Wangaratta lost its last seven wickets for just 26 runs to be bowled out for 143.

Murray Valley import Amar Ullah took three of the seven quick wickets to fall on his way to figures of 4-24 off 12 overs.

For Wangaratta, opener Reid Clarke (62) and Blair Carnegie (30) combined for 92 of their side’s 143 runs.

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Having made scores of 71, 57 and 61 on the first three days of the carnival, Murray Valley opener Wian Van Zyl (0) made a first-ball duck in the second over of the chase when caught by James Carboon off the bowling of Joe Thomas (2-29).

Murray Valley later lost a flurry of four wickets, crashing from 2-76 to 6-81 in the 35^th over and Wangaratta had a genuine sniff.

However, an unbroken partnership of 63 between Andrew Hogan (39 n.o.) and Brodie Ross (24 n.o.) navigated Murray Valley to victory in the 45^th over.

Wangaratta bowler Thomas Jones (2-37) was at one stage on a hat-trick when he removed Angus Campbell (31) and Ullah (0) in consecutive deliveries.

While Murray Valley has another final to look forward to, Wangaratta ends its return campaign in division one with a 2-2 record.

• For the third year in a row Murray Valley’s grand final opponent at the QEO will be Goulburn Murray.

Goulburn Murray shored up its place in the final – which will start at the earlier time of 9am and be 35-overs-a-side due to the 45 degrees forecast – with a 54-run victory over Emu Valley at Harry Trott Oval.

Kirk Teasdale (65) and Alister McCann (55 n.o.) both made half-centuries for Goulburn Murray in its 250.

The innings included a 93-run stand between Teasdale and skipper Matthew Hinks (35) that started when Goulburn Murray was 4-74.

Alex Gorrie’s 3-29 off seven overs were the best bowling figures for Emu Valley, which batted out its 50 overs in reply, but was held to 9-196.

Emu Valley Country Week stalwart Scott Ross (56) notched a half-century and added 50 for the third wicket with Rick Ladson (18) in the best stand of the innings.

Goulburn Murray used 10 bowlers – seven of whom took a wicket, which included Dale Shaw, who finished with 3-18.

For the second year in a row Emu Valley finished with a 1-3 record, while Goulburn Murray will now turn its attention to its fifth grand final in seven years competing at Bendigo since it was formed out of a merger between the former Kyabram and Campapse competitions.

The two grand final combatants met on the opening day of the carnival when Murray Valley flogged Goulburn Murray by 126 runs.

• Castlemaine will be relegated to division two next year, but avoided a winless carnival, notching a 46-run victory over Gisborne at White Hills.

Castlemaine – which won the toss and bowled – answered Gisborne’s 181 with 227 on the back of a solid batting performance spearheaded by 63 from Brett Cole, who made his second half-century of the week.

READ MORE – Castlemaine v Gisborne | PHOTOS

Castlemaine passed its target six wickets down before later being bowled out in the 49^th over.

Four Gisborne bowlers took two wickets apiece, including skipper Kieran Atkin (2-42), who earlier top-scored with an entertaining 65 in his side’s innings.

Atkin’s 65 came off just 53 balls and featured five boundaries and four sixes, with he and Ryan Billinghurst (42) combining for more than half of Gisborne’s score.

Coming off a five-wicket bag the previous day against Murray Valley, John Watson (3-43) again bowled well for Castlemaine, as did Clint Aldridge (3-22).

Grassmere defeated Colac by 61 runs at Huntly in a preview of Friday’s division two grand final.

Grassmere’s Tyson Umbers took 4-16 as Colac was skittled for 82 batting first, with the bulk of the runs scored by Billy Bernet (30) and No.9 Oliver McGuane (24).

Grassmere answered with 143 to remain undefeated, before Colac cracked a quickfire 4-113 off 16 overs in its second innings.

• Red Cliffs ended its carnival by posting its first win against Portland at Golden Square in a game where both sides made more than 200.

Portland compiled 8-201 batting first, but it wasn’t enough as Red Cliffs reached 7-206 in the 45^th over.

Red Cliffs’ successful run-chase featured 93 from captain Mark East opening the batting, while earlier, Portland’s Stephen O’Brien finished unbeaten on 89.

• Northern Districts proved too good for Grampians at Strathfieldsaye.

A fourth half-century of the carnival to skipper Sam Cocks (62) helped Grampians to 9-187 after being sent in.

Northern Districts answered with 5-195, with both Garry Lolicato (58 n.o.) and Greg Dickson (51) raising their bats.

A year after it was disqualified from playing in the final for using more than the allowed 17 players during the week, Northern United gets its shot at moving up to division two.

Northern United’s 25-run win over Wimmera-Mallee propelled it into Friday’s division three final.

Jake Wright starred with 5-25 off 11 overs as Northern United knocked over Wimmera-Mallee for 106.

Northern United passed its target six wickets down on the way to reaching 131, with Chris Guinane (30) top-scoring.

Wimmera-Mallee scored 5-57 in its second innings, but was edged out by Northern United by just 0.8 points for a place in the final against Maryborough.

Wright took another three wickets in the second innings to finish with 8-45 for the match.

• Maryborough (5-141) warmed up for the final by defeating Upper Loddon (139).

The game featured a five-wicket bag to Maryborough’s Aaron Westbrook (5-32).

………………..……………...

1. Murray Valley – 62.81

2. Goulburn Murray

– 52.83

3. Wangaratta – 35.87

4. Gisborne – 27.35

5. Emu Valley – 26.21

6. Castlemaine – 26.02

1. Grassmere – 64.98

2. Colac – 51.06

3. Portland – 38.04

4. Northern Districts

– 37.81

5. Red Cliffs – 25.87

6. Grampians – 13.06

1. Maryborough – 63.1

2. Northern United – 51.7

3. Wimmera-Mallee – 50.9

4. Upper Loddon – 25.3

5. Grassmere – 20.6

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