Ash Gardner has produced team-best efforts with both bat and ball, but not enough to help her Trent Rockets take early place on top of the table in the UK Hundred overnight.
The Muruwari allrounder top-scored with a five-boundary 34 at the crease at no.4 to steer the Rockets towards their total of 142, though solid contributions though London Spirit's order meant the visitors were able to chase the required three balls.
Gardner took 2-24 in the second innings.
Grace Harris (37) and Marie Kelly (39) did the early work at the top of the Spirit's order, before an unbeaten 41 Nadine de Klerk helped seal the result over the Rockets with five wickets in hand.
"We had a really good platform today and a chance to cash in, but weren't quite able to explode like you want in this format - and that's cricket sometimes," Gardner said of the match.
"We didn't adapt quite as quickly as we'd have liked, but there are lots of learnings to take from it."
Gardner took over the Rockets' captaincy last season, replacing England veteran Nat Sciver-Brunt.
The Trent Bridge surface is one on which batters can take full advantage once they settle into their innings, Gardner said.
Beth Mooney was removed without score at the top of the Rockets' order, with Sophia Dunkley and Sophie Luff contributing with 23 and 24 runs respectively early.
In the middle order, Bess Heath hit a quick 31 to help push to total out for Gardner's side.
A win for the Rockets would have seen them sit on top of the table with two wins from two early on in the competition.
They now sit third with all eight sides completing their first two games.
Kicking off their campaign, Gardner's side cruised to a nine-wicket win after Birmingham Phoenix were all-out for 64 on Friday.
In their successful chase overnight, London Spirit lodged their first win for the season after being bested by Manchester Super Giants in another run-lean affair last week.
"It's awesome to see lots of fans come in on a Sunday afternoon," Gardner told trentbridge.co.uk.
"They turn out and support their teams here, so it's great to come and play in front of them.
"We've got three more games at home, so hopefully we can focus on putting right what we got wrong and turn it around."
