A snap lockdown of the city of Perth due to a Covid-19 case in Western Australia's hotel-quarantine programme forced Cricket Australia into a last-minute shift of the Perth Scorchers' Big Bash League Challenger on Thursday to Canberra's Manuka Oval.

The Scorchers squad, having lost to the Sydney Sixers at Manuka on Saturday night in the Qualifier between first and second, were fortunate their scheduled flight home to Perth was not due to depart until late afternoon Canberra time, meaning the news of WA's five-day lockdown until Friday arrived in time to keep them in the eastern states.

BBL officials were called into urgent meetings on Sunday afternoon to finalise a contingency for the match between the Scorchers and the winners of Sunday's Knockout between the Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder in Canberra. The final has already been awarded to the SCG and the Sixers.

More to follow...