Ben Henson was the star for the four-time Goulburn Murray Cricket champion, as it set a total of 6-228 batting first at Moon Oval.
Brendan Moyle and Anthony Dennis got Echuca off to a strong start, adding 70 without loss.
Moyle (26) was first to go, Dennis going on to make 42 before his number was called.
The wicket started a minor collapse for Echuca, his wicket starting a run of 3-1, before Henson and Easton Carlile were able to steady the ship.
Carlile was a temporary deputy to Henson, who was joined by Liam Beasley for the innings’ best stand.
The pair put on 110 together, Beasley (46) cruelly denied a half-century by the wiles of James Keath, gone stumped in the 48th over.
Henson had had no such issue, however, and remained unbeaten at the 50-over mark on 78.
Jasper Hare was L-G’s leader with the ball, taking 3-32, while James Keath, Jye Keath and Simon Tatt took one each.
Going into the contest as the less favoured side, L-G looked at times as if it may canter to the total, especially when openers Tyler Jones and Luke Sanderson were firing.
The pair put on 72 for the first wicket, but Ryan Caldwell made the crucial breakthrough, ending Jones’ afternoon for 35.
Sanderson would go on to make 40, but once Echuca had seen the back of him and Jason Keath (32), the Leitchville-Gunbower innings crumbled.
From 5-153, L-G was all out for 175 as Echuca rolled to a season-sustaining win.
Kale Edwards took 3-20, while William Kerr added 2-21 as all six bowlers used by Echuca earned at least one scalp.
There is only one scenario that will see Echuca make the top four, as it sits two games back and with only two to play.
First, the side must defeat an equally desperate Rochester this weekend in a 2024-25 grand final rematch with very different stakes.
Doing so will eliminate Rochy from contention, while a final round win over Nondies-Cohuna could see Echuca tie Kyabram Fire Brigade, as long as the Flames fall to Bamawm-Lockington United and Echuca South in the final fortnight.
Should all those results go to plan, it will come down to quotient, with Echuca, currently trailing in that metric, likely to gain the advantage given the required results.
Leitchville-Gunbower has the bye this weekend, before finishing its year on the road at Tongala.
The Game
Echuca 6-228 (Ben Henson 78 not out, Liam Beasley 46, Jasper Hare 3-32) d Leitchville-Gunbower 175 (Luke Sanderson 40, Tyler Jones 35, Kale Edwards 3-20)
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