The Lions sit seventh on the ladder and will not make finals, paying the price for an 0-5 start to the season.

While this match could not alter their finals fate, the Mounties risked losing top spot, however, East Ballarat going down allowing them to remain on top.

It was a thrilling result for Darley.

Chasing 273 for victory, it looked to be smooth sailing at 2-254.

Centurion Richard Moore (105) and skipper Michael Alexander (86) put on 157 runs for the third wicket to set-up the victory.

But as Moore fell to make it 3-254, that triggered a collapse that saw Darley lose 6-15, leaving it needing four runs with one wicket in hand.

Number 11 batsman David Hoey (0*) came out to the middle to join Brad Barnes (3*), he would only have to face one ball as the winning runs came via four byes, striking relief in the Darley camp.

Captain Alexander said he was pleased with the result, but it also came with a sense of 'what if' given the Lions will not play finals.

"We're rapt, any time you're chasing a big total is hard. The wicket was difficult to bat on and we didn't have that much to play for," Alexander said.

"We're playing our best cricket now and we have been over the past 6-8 weeks apart from a couple of aberrations.

"It's just unfortunate that we didn't execute at the front-end (of the season), because we'd be thereabouts.

"We've had our opportunities which we've squandered, we've only got ourselves to blame.

"But it shows what we can do."

Alexander said the aim was to get the runs within 65 overs, anticipating a very dry and tough wicket to bat on towards the end of the day.

The Lions passed the total at the end of the 66th over, but perhaps with a few more nerves than hoped.

Nonetheless, there was plenty to like about the Darley performance.

For Mt Clear, it may no be an ideal preparation for finals, but it will be pleased to hold on to top spot of the ladder.

GOLDEN Point's bowling attack cleaned up the East Ballarat tail to deliver a 53-run win on the weekend.

The Hawks always had a tough job ahead of them in pursuit of 302, but at 3-217 it was looking promising.

However, the wicket of Brad Whittaker (92 runs), who had just put on 150 runs with Lewis Hodgins (87), saw East Ballarat lose its last seven wickets for just 31 runs.

Bailey Van De Heuvel enjoyed the team's best figures with 4-54, but it was Simon Ogilvie who took 3-61 and the important scalps of Hodgins and Whittaker.

East Ballarat all out for 248.

As the results panned out, the Hawks would have jumped to the top of the ladder had they been able to chase down the target, nonetheless, they remain in second spot.

Golden Point, sitting third, closes the gap on the top two but would need outright victory and favourable results in the final round to move from there.

Given this, it looks likely these two sides will meet again in round one of finals.

NORTH Ballarat skipper Leigh Lorenzen said his side would use this weekend to find form through the middle of the batting order, and Mick Nolan did exactly that.

Nolan was outstanding with the bat, making 189 runs as North batted for the entire day against Wendouree.

Nolan occupied the crease for 281 balls, hitting 27 fours and two sixes.

It was a dominant display. North eventually all out for 445 in the 113th over, Adam Eddy also getting his eye in with the bat, making an unbeaten 53.

The two teams endured contrasting innings.

North Ballarat had already secured first innings points last weekend, locking in its finals spot, after dismissing Red Caps for 92.

Saturday was just what North Ballarat ordered. 

A sharpening up of some key players in the batting order while the bowlers enjoyed a freshen up.

For the Red Caps, it is not the sort of day you look forward to.

A day in the field with the result, and your finals hopes, already dashed, it was a tough day.

Lucas Argall toiled hard, taking 2-128 from 34 overs as the most used bowler.

Jack Peeters (2-82), Ryan Simmonds (2-56), Gavin Webb (2-22) and Heath Pyke (2-43) all took two wickets each.

BROWN Hill star Jason Knowles proved a thorn in Ballarat-Redan's side across both weekends as the Bulls enjoyed their sixth win of the season.

Knowles made 89 last week, to help Brown Hill to a strong score of 230 while he led from the front in defending that total by taking 6-49.

Knowles produced a mountain of work, bowling 26 overs, the next most for the Bulls was 12.

Two Swords resumed at 3-20 and lost their fourth wicket after adding eight runs. Trouble then set in through the 50s, losing wickets at 56, 57 and 57 to have Ballarat-Redan in all sorts of strife at 7-57.

Zac Jenkins (40 runs) and Brendan Thomson (35) put on 66 for the eighth wicket, but Ballarat-Redan was ultimately all out for 143.

Brown Hill enjoying a comfortable victory.

BUNINYONG and Napoleons-Sebastopol called time on their match midway through Saturday afternoon with the Bunnies settling for first innings points.

Buninyong locked away victory last week, leading Naps-Sebas by 47 runs. The Bunnies were all out for 160, giving them a 75-run lead.

Napoleons-Sebastopol batted for 29 overs, reaching 3-97, Jonah Healey continuing his country week form, unbeaten on 44, before the result was called.