ACT Meteors coach Andrew Dawson admits his side needs a miracle to qualify for the final of the Women's Twenty20 in Canberra as a curtain-raiser to the Big Bash League final.
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The Meteors crashed to a fourth loss from as many games in the short format, going down to the star-studded Victoria Spirit by eight wickets at Manuka Oval on Sunday.
The Meteors lost both their opening round Twenty20 games to the NSW Breakers a fortnight ago, and also went down to Victoria on Friday night.
The only bright spot of the weekend for the Meteors was their six-wicket victory over the Spirit in Saturday's Women's National Cricket League one-day game.
That result puts the Meteors in the mix for a spot in the semi-finals of the 50-over competition.
However, the top four format for the Twenty20 competition has been scrapped.
Instead, the top two teams at the end of the home and away rounds will meet in the final on January 28 before the men's Big Bash League final.
The Meteors benefitted from the top four format last year, finishing fourth and eliminating NSW in the semi-finals to take on Queensland in the final.
While they are still holding out hope of results going their way, Dawson said his side's chances of making the Twenty20 final were remote.
"To be brutally honest, mathematically there could be something that could be done, but it's going to be very tough," Dawson said.
"We will require Victoria or NSW to stumble somewhere.
"We'll have a right royal crack at it, but we're one from two in the one-dayers and can go pretty hard after the break."
The Meteors finished their 20 overs with 7-121, with former England international Lynsey Askew playing a lone hand in her new role at the top of the order, carrying her bat for an unbeaten 69 from 60 balls.
Askew also made an impact with the ball, claiming the big wicket of Australian Southern Stars captain Meg Lanning for 31 off 20 balls.
But despite her departure, Victoria was never troubled in reaching the target with more than three overs to spare.
Askew – who has returned from a year off with a hip injury – said the Meteors would need to regroup before their next series away to South Australia on November 28-30.
"We should be pleased with the weekend, but we still have work to do," she said.
"The body hurts a little bit, less so this round than the first round, the body's in less shock.
"I'm just enjoying being back around the group."
WT20: Victoria Spirit 2-124 bt ACT Meteors 7-121 at Manuka Oval on Sunday.
