The Flames went into the clash knowing that one more Goulburn Murray Cricket win would make their top four position unassailable, but were held off by just 15 runs by a quality Lions squad.
The Lions batted first after winning the toss and the eventual total of 7-248 was made possible by a quality knock from skipper Regis Chakabva.
The two-time reigning Turner medallist broke through for his first ton of this campaign, smashing 125 from 123 balls, including 11 fours and four sixes.
The rest of the Lions played supporting cast to the Zimbabwe international, led by Joel Felmingham (38), while Prateer Mehta, Jeremy Felmingham and Luke Thompson all also made double-figure scores.
Hunter Fawcett led the Fire Brigade attack, taking 3-43, while Jackson Barnett (2-39) and Oliver Hughes (2-71) were the other wicket-takers.
Despite Chakabva’s dominant knock, 248 in 50 overs was a chaseable total for the Flames, who knew the reward of finals would be theirs if they could do so.
Things started disastrously when both openers were sent packing by Jeremy Felmingham within the first three overs.
Bohden Learmonth steadied the ship and, after a cameo from Shannon Fleming (20 from 14), he found a long-term ally in Jake Gascoyne.
The duo added 126 for the fourth wicket to get Fire Brigade beyond the halfway mark at 160.
Learmonth (69) was first past 50, but shortly after Gascoyne joined him he was also first to go, Prateer Mehta making the vital breakthrough.
Gascoyne persisted for a time but Mehta again showed his quality, trapping him in front to take the second Flames danger man out of the equation.
The tail looked to salvage the innings, and with both balls and wickets running out, Hunter Fawcett and Oliver Hughes had Fire Brigade daring to dream.
The two put on 23 together and had the Flames within 20 runs while eight down, but disaster struck with Hughes (12) run out in the 48th over.
Fire Brigade trailed by 16 with two overs to go, but Kade Pearse iced the game within two balls, getting through Fawcett’s defences and ending the chase still 15 runs shy.
Jeremy Felmingham finished with 3-39 to lead BLU, whle Mehta’s two vital wickets saw him claim next best figures (2-43).
The result saw Fire Brigade lose fourth place to Rochester on quotient, although it will hope the change is only temporary.
Rochy has the bye and is powerless to add to its own total, meaning any points for the Flames against Echuca South this week will earn a finals berth.
A Swans win will end the season for Fire Brigade.
BLU, secure in the top three, finishes up the regular season in an intriguing top-two clash with Moama.
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