Final round of Country Cup tournament called off

The final round of the Belt Up Country Cup competition has been called off.

A decision was made on Wednesday to cancel round three of the Country Cup on Sunday, involving Albany and Districts Cricket Association, Bunbury and Districts, Peel and the WA Invitational XI.

A five-day lockdown in the metro area, Peel and the South West, caused by a positive case of COVID, has ended but government restrictions on travel and the use of masks have made logistics to play the games tough.

Albany were scheduled to travel into the Peel region and face the hosts at Peelwood Reserve in at 11am on Sunday.

The WA Invitational XI were hosting Bunbury and Districts at Stevens Reserve in Fremantle.

There was also a strong chance of rain in the Peel and Perth area this weekend, with between 20-40mm of rain forecast for Halls Head on Saturday and 5-10mm on Sunday.

Competition organisers will explore the option of rescheduling the final round, given the opening round was abandoned.

Albany were relying on a big win over Peel, and either Bunbury and Districts or WA Invitational XI losing, to force their way into the top two. Bunbury and Districts and the WA Invitational XI were winners in round two.

The top two teams on the ladder will play in the final at the WACA, originally set down for February 21.

Albany and Districts were expected to take a strong side to face Peel, containing a number of first XI players from their country week team while Jeremy Wood was set to take the reins from Mitch Green as captain.