ACT Meteors opening batter Katie Mack broke through for her maiden one-day century, but it wasn't enough to secure victory against a red-hot Queensland Fire.
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Mack's tremendous knock of 106 from 131 balls went unrewarded as the Meteors suffered a five-wicket loss to the Fire in their Women's National Cricket League match at Manuka Oval on Saturday.
The Meteors will also be without Australian Southern Stars fast bowler Rene Farrell for the rest of the competition with a suspected fractured thumb.
Farrell sustained the injury while attempting a sharp caught-and-bowled chance during Friday night's Twenty20 game.
It was just Mack's second round of the WNCL this summer after she missed the start of the tournament with a broken finger.
"Now I feel like I'm in form, but I've had to wait after a disrupted start to the season," Mack said.
"I'm extremely happy, I've been working really hard over the last two years as a batter.
"For it to pay off, I couldn't think of anything better."
Mack was the cornerstone of the Meteors innings, putting together an opening partnership of 136 with Jenny Taffs (53) in a total of 7-243.
The Fire made light work of the run chase on a flat pitch and a quick outfield, Grace Harris smashing 83 from 63 balls after taking 4-20 with the ball to get the visitors home (5-246) with more than 11 overs to spare.
The Meteors used nine bowlers as they tried anything they could to slow down the Fire's momentum.
"We tried to mix it up - it worked sometimes, but not in other times," Mack said.
"It wasn't enough runs on this ground.
"After we got a few wickets we still felt in the game even when they were above our run rate, but we should have scored more."
The match was also the 100th for Meteors captain Kris Britt.
The Meteors will be looking for a win in Sunday's Twenty20 game starting at 10am.
WNCL: Queensland Fire 5-246 bt ACT Meteors 7-243 at Manuka Oval on Saturday.
