Salter claimed an economical 5/34 off 21 overs as Tongala fell for 108 in 70.4 overs, chasing the Flames’ score of 175.
Only Darin Ohlsen’s fighting 43 put up any resistance, as Tongala’s last six batsmen mustered only 25 runs while Salter and Tom Owen took control with the ball.
Owen gave great support to Salter with 3/18 off 12 overs.
The win lifted the Flames from fifth to fourth spot on the ladder and a date with minor premier Rochester in a sudden death semi-final this weekend at Rochy.
Fire Brigade coach John Varcoe said there were unlikely to be any major changes, if any, in his relative young team for this showdown.
‘‘We know we will have to play at our best to be a winning chance, as Rochester has plenty of experienced and classy players, as well as depth,’’ Varcoe said.
In the other semi-final, reigning premier Echuca will face cross-river rival Moama at Victoria Park.
Echuca is coming off a batting bonanza against BLU in the final home-and-away round.
Chasing Echuca’s daunting score of 5/354 and needing to win to play finals, BLU finished at 9/189 on Saturday, with opener and skipper Regis Chakabva top scoring with 71.
Rochester held top place with a maximum point win over wooden spooner Nondies Cohuna.
Nondies was dismissed for 63 and 164, leaving Rochester to chase only 53 runs in its second innings to win outright, a feat it achieved in 12.1 overs for the loss of only one wicket.
Echuca South was the hard luck story in the battle to play finals, making the 192 runs needed to beat Moama on Saturday but thwarted by Fire Brigade in the race for the only spot left in the finals.
An unbeaten 82 from Rathika Rajakumara proved a match-winning innings for South, but it came up a game short in premiership points to win the race to make an appearance in the finals.
