After scoring two wins from its first two games, the Emu Valley looked on track for a third-straight win when it dismissed Wangaratta for 167 and made a solid 0-24 start to its reply.

However, the dismissal of opener Greg Thomas for 14 in the seventh over started a 22-over stretch to forget for Emu Valley.

In 132 balls they lost 10-29 to be all out for just 53 at Harry Trott Oval. It was the lowest score in division one action for at least 14 years.

Thomas and fellow opener David Blume (13) were the only Emu Valley players to score more than six.

Jacob Schonafinger and Tafadzwa Tsiga did the damage for Wangaratta.

In a remarkable 10-over spell, Schonafinger claimed 5-11, while Tsiga was just as impressive with figures of 4-12 off 9.3 overs.

Earlier, a half-century from Matt Casey (51) and 37 from Tsiga ensured Wangaratta posted a competitive total.

Harry Whittle (3-16), James Fox (2-20) and Rhys Webb (2-20) bowled well for Emu Valley.

The result leaves Emu Valley needing to defeat the unbeaten Murray Valley in Thursday's last round to qualify for Friday's grand final.

Gisborne is in the box seat to play Murray Valley in the grand final after it defeated Goulburn Murray in a high-scoring clash at Dower Park on Wednesday.

Brilliant centuries from Ben Way and Kieran Atkin were the catalyst for Gisborne's big score of 6-281 off 50 overs.

Opener Atkin hit 14 fours and three sixes in his score of 100 off 96 balls.

Way batted at number four and blasted 105 off 76 balls, including six fours and six sixes.

Way fell in the final over of the innings and was the third scalp for Jack Russell (3-48).

Goulburn Murray made a good fist of the big run chase.

Jesse Barker (65 off 88), Dylan Cuttriss (56 off 33) and Stephen Barrett (31 off 32) all batted well, but they couldn't go on and emulate what Way and Atkin had achieved earlier.

Gisborne's David McDonald took 4-53 as Goulburn Murray was bowled out for 237 - 44 runs short of Gisborne.

Gisborne plays bottom side Grassmere in Thursday's final round and a victory should be enough to retain second spot and earn a grand final berth.

Murray Valley made it three wins from three games by outclassing Grassmere at Weeroona Oval.

Kieran Andrew (58 not out), Sam Dorsey (55) and skipper Adam Decicco (31) led Murray Valley to 242 batting first.

Chris Lenehan took four wickets for Grassmere.

In reply, Grassmere struggled to put together a significant partnership and was bowled out for 155.

Damian Jones made 45 off 48 balls for Grassmere, while Matthew Jaensch continued his good form by taking 3-19 for Murray Valley.

Ladder after three rounds:

Murray Valley 12 points, 1.61 net run rate

Gisborne 8, 1.10

Emu Valley 8, 0.93

Wangaratta 4, 1.42

Goulburn Murray 4, 0.91

Grassmere 0, 0.45

Thursday's fixture:

Goulburn Murray v Wangaratta at Harry Trott Oval

Emu Valley v Murray Valley at Dower Park

Gisborne v Grassmere at Canterbury Park

In division two, the top two teams on the ladder will do battle in Thursday's final round.

The winner of the Maryborough versus Wimmera-Mallee clash at Princes Park in Maryborough will be guaranteed a grand final berth.

Third-placed Castlemaine and fourth-placed Northern Districts are also in the mix to make the grand final if results fall their way on Thursday.

Castlemaine stayed in contention for the final after defeating Northern Districts by one wicket at Camp Reserve.

Chasing Northern Districts' small total of 96, last pair Declan Slingo and Kris Bagley added 11 runs for the final wicket to get Castlemaine over the line.

Slingo (22 not out) was second top score for Castlemaine, while Bagley didn't score but survived 11 deliveries.

John Watson (24 and 4-26) was man of the match for Castlemaine, while Sam Reece took 3-18.

Clayton Holmes (33) was a standout with the bat for Northern Districts. Peter Moore (3-13) and James Keath (3-17) did their best to bowl Northern Districts to victory.

A century from skipper James Harney wasn't enough to get Northern United over the line against Wimmera-Mallee.

Harney's 100 was the backbone of Northern United's score of 9-208 off 50 overs at Strathfieldsaye.

Cooper Anderson (3-39) bowled well for Wimmera-Mallee.

Wimmera-Mallee cruised to an eight-wicket victory with 12 overs to spare after Sanjula Abeywickrama (87 not out) and Jake Leith (48 not out) put on an unbroken stand of 149 for the third wicket.

A fine 106 not out from Dean Edge was the highlight of Murray Valley's 73-run win over Red Cliffs at Bell Oval.

Edge strode to the crease at 2-36 and batted through the remainder of the innings to lead Murray Valley to 7-233.

Red Cliffs' best bowler was Shannon Bowen with 3-49.

Red Cliffs replied with all out 160 in 43 overs, with Mitchell Shaw (36) and Evan Lampard (27) best with the bat.

Murray Valley had six bowlers take wickets. Jack Andrew cleaned up the tail by taking 3-2 off his two overs.

Ladder after three rounds:

Maryborough 12 points, 1.11 net run rate

Wimmera-Mallee 10, 1.40

Castlemaine 8, 0.96

Northern Districts 6, 1.07

Murray Valley 4, 1.20

Northern United 4, 0.70

Red Cliffs 4, 0.51

Thursday's fixture:

Northern United v Northern Districts at Golden Square

Red Cliffs v Castlemaine at White Hills

Maryborough v Wimmera-Mallee at Princes Park

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