Ryan Knowles was sensational with the bat while Jayden Hayes was just as valuable, helping the Ballarat Cricket Association to a three-wicket win over Murray Valley Cricket Association.

The BCA sent Murray Valley in to and Harli Givvens was the main man with the ball, taking 5-18 to restrict MVCA to 125 runs.

Ballarat took a positive approach to its run chase, eyeing a bonus point – if it could track the score down within 40 overs.

But that aggressive mindset nearly proved its undoing. BCA finding itself reeling at 6-32.

Knowles watched a few of his teammates depart before Hayes came to the crease. The pair put on a crucial 53 runs as Knowles departed for 42 – surviving 114 balls.

Hayes was then joined by Will Rogers, who made a quickfire 19, and they guided BCA to victory – Hayes unbeaten on 33.

Captain Adam Eddy was pleased to get the win and while it was not ideal to find itself in such a position, getting out of it required some grit and class.

“He (Knowles) was batting unreal and all we needed was one batsmen to stay with him for a certain amount of time and Jayden (Hayes) did an awesome job of that and then Will (Rogers) at the end,” Eddy said.

“We played some silly shots early and went a bit too aggressive.

“We dug ourselves a little hole but we were good enough to get out of it.”

Ballarat will now play Bairnsdale in the final round before finals in what is a huge match. BCA is second in its pool, with the top two going through, Bairnsdale is on top after a shock victory over Geelong.

BCA will be playing for a finals spot.