Multiple wickets and an innings high from Ash Gardner wasn't enough to see the Gujarat Giants breakthrough for their maiden victory of the India's Women's Premier League on Monday.
After restricting the Delhi Capitals to 8-163 the Giants could only muster 8-138 in response, Dehli the eventual victors by 25 runs.
Gardner top scored for Gujarat in the unsuccessful chase, posting 40 (31) in the middle order.
Arriving at the crease in the fifth over with the score at 3-34, the allrounder struck five boundaries and a six during her 11 over stay at the crease, partnering first with Veda Krishnamurthy (12 from 13) and Tanuja Kanwar (13 from 16) to see Gujarat surpass three figures partway through the 14th over of the chase.
The match was in the balance with the Giants maintaining a run rate of above seven runs per over leading into the final overs of the chase, however the loss of Gardner early in the 15th over ended Gujarat's chances of claiming their first victory of the tournament.
The Muruwari woman was dismissed stumped from the bowling of Jess Jonassen (3-22), marking her fourth consecutive dismissal to spin bowling in as many matches.
Jonassen and left arm orthodox spinner Radha Yadav (3-20) were Dehli's best with the ball.
In the match's first innings, Gardner took two late-innings wickets to end with figures of 2-37 from her four overs.
Indian medium pacer Meghan Singh (4-37) was Gujarat's best with the ball, with Australian Meg Lanning (55 from 41) anchoring Delhi's innings.
Two days earlier Gujarat were comprehensively beaten by the UP Warriorz, who defeated the Giants by six wickets.
Gardner contributed 30 (17) of the Giants' 5-142 before a rampant Warriorz batting outfit, lead by Queenslander Grace Harris (60* from 33) chased the total down with more than four overs to spare.
Gardner went wicketless (0-30) from three overs in the unsuccessful defence.
The Giants will be looking for their first win of the tournament when they face the Royal Challengers Bangalore for the second time on Thursday.
