Brett Eldridge's men escaped with a washed-out draw from their match against Yarra Valley at Bill Lawry Oval. They were 6-119 and needing 95 runs off 76 balls for victory after Yarra Valley made 213.

But it was the washed-out draw between Ballarat and Traralgon across town at Malvern which has sent the race for the final into today.

Warrnambool and District (1st) plays Ballarat (3rd) on Thursday. The winner is guaranteed a place in the final on Friday.

The loser is out of the race, unless Traralgon (2nd) suffers a shock loss to Benalla.

Should that happen, bonus points come into play for the second berth, with Ferntree Gully (4th) coming into the equation.

South West Cricket needs victory against Murray Valley at Bayswater Oval on Thursday to ensure a third consecutive appearance in provincial grade.

A seven-wicket defeat to Bairnsdale at Central Reserve, Glen Waverley has left it with one win and two losses.

Batting demons were the story of the day. South West lost 9-32, including 6-0, to be all out for 102. Bairnsdale reached 5-240 before rain ended the match.

Leongatha and District is winless in provincial grade and will be relgated if it loses against Bairnsdale on Thursday.

But if it wins, the loser of the South West-Murray Valley contest is at risk of demotion.

"We're in control of our destiny. If we win the game, we don't have to worry about any of that garbage," captain Travis Brown said.

5PM: Rain has washed out the rest of South West's provincial grade match against Bairnsdale at Central Reserve, Glen Waverley.

Bairnsdale finished at 5-240 off 45.4 overs in reply to 102 all out, reaching the target three wickets down. The loss has left South West with a 1-2 record after three matches.

Leongatha and District is winless and will be relegated if it loses to Bairnsdale tomorrow.

But South West and Murray Valley, which each have 1-2 records and clash tomorrow, could slump to the bottom of the ladder if they lose and Leongatha and District wins.

Todd Lamont and Jake Reed each took two wickets with the ball while Simon Baker top scored with 37 earlier in the day as South West lost 9-32 to end its innings.

4.40PM: Rain is settling in at Bill Lawry Oval, Northcote, where Warrnambool and District is in trouble against Yarra Valley and covers are on the wicket.

Warrnambool and District is 6-119 off 37.2 overs. Michael Threlfall (20 not out) and Nick Butters (zero not out) are at the crease.

Eldridge was out for 36 off 67 balls and is the top scorer. Dustin Drew made 21 off 47 balls opening the innings.

4PM: Brett Eldridge is the glue that is holding Warrnambool and District's run chase together against Yarra Valley at Bill Lawry Oval, Northcote.

Eldridge is unbeaten on 36 in a score of 5-95 off 32 overs, in pursuit of 214. Warrnambool and District needs 120 runs off 108 balls for victory.

3.20PM: South West Cricket has suffered a seven-wicket defeat to Bairnsdale at Central Reserve, Glen Waverley.

Bairnsdale is currently 3-117 off 31 overs, having reached the target of 103, with rain delaying play.

Warrnambool and District needs 161 off 180 balls to beat Yarra Valley at Bill Lawry Oval, Northcote.

Karl Turner, Dustin Drew and Josh Stapleton are out, with Warrnambool and District 3-54 off 20 overs in pursuit of 214.

2.45PM: Warrnambool and District is 1-18 in the eighth over in pursuit of Yarra Valley's 214 at Bill Lawry Oval, Northcote. Karl Turner is the man out.

Two quick wickets to Jake Reed have reduced Bairnsdale to 3-88 in pursuit of South West's 102 at Central Reserve, Glen Waverley.

2PM: South West is staring at defeat in its provincial grade match against Bairnsdale at Central Reserve, Glen Waverley.

Bairnsdale, chasing 125, has reached 1-48 off 13 overs at lunch. Simon Baker has the sole wicket after top scoring with 37.

Warrnambool and District requires 215 for victory in its division two match against Yarra Valley at Bill Lawry Oval, Northcote.

Yarra Valley was all out for 214 in the 50th over. Ben Boyd took 3-36 off 7.4 overs, Karl Turner took 3-38 off 10 overs and Hank Schlaghecke took 2-37 off nine overs.

Troy Murphy made 61 for Yarra Valley batting at number seven, hitting six fours and two sixes.

1.30PM: Yarra Valley is mounting a comeback against Warrnambool and District in division two at Bill Lawry Oval, Northcote.

Yarra Valley is 8-174 off 43 overs, with the tail wagging after it was in a precarious situation at 7-149.

12.45PM: South West is in deep trouble in its provincial grade match against Bairnsdale at Central Reserve, Glen Waverley.

A collapse of 9-39 in 14 overs has left South West all out for 102 in 34 overs against the top-grade newcomer.

Simon Baker top scored with 37. Only a herculean performance with the ball will prevent a second defeat for the week.

Bairnsdale completed similar heroics yesterday, dismissing Geelong for 133 en route to a 33-run victory.

12PM: Karl Turner has landed a double blow for Warrnambool and District in its division two match against Yarra Valley at Bill Lawry Oval, Northcote.

Yarra Valley is 3-88 off 27 overs, with Turner grabbing all three scalps - two caught by wicket keeper Michael Threlfall and one by Hank Schaghecke.

11.45AM: South West has started patiently but has wickets in hand in its division one match against Bairnsdale at Central Reserve, Glen Waverley.

South West is 1-63 off 20 overs. Simon Baker is 35 not out and Travis Brown is 11 not out.

11.15AM: Yarra Valley has reached 0-37 off 13 overs in its division two match against Warrnambool and District at Bill Lawry Oval, Northcote.

11AM: South West is 1-31 after 11 overs in its provincial grade match against Bairnsdale at Central Reserve, Glen Waverley.

Josh Barr is the man out, LBW for 15. Opener Simon Baker and captain Travis Brown are at the crease.

10AM: South West has lost the toss and is batting in its Melbourne Country Week provincial grade match against Bairnsdale at Central Reserve, Glen Waverley.

Josh Barr is the 12th man batsman while Jake Reed is the 12th man bowler. Travis Brown has come into the side although who he has replaced is unconfirmed.

Warrnambool and District has lost the toss and is bowling in its division two match against Yarra Valley at Bill Lawry Oval, Northcote.

Geoff Williams and Hank Schlaghecke come into the side, at the expense of Matt Brophy and Tom Smith. Nick Butters is the 12th man batsman and Schlaghecke is the 12th man bowler.

Warrnambool and District endured heartbreak the last time it played at Bill Lawry Oval, losing the 2013 MCW division two grand final to Bairnsdale by two runs in a match dubbed the "Nightmare at Northcote".