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Delhi Giants paid the price of not building partnerships as they lost their ICL encounter to Kolkata Tigers by just one run at Tau Devi lal Stadium in Gurgaon on Sunday.
Chasing 143 to win, Giants could manage 141 for eight in their quota of 20 overs.
Requiring 14 runs in the final over, bowled by former South African all-rounder Lance Klusner, the Delhi team scored 12.
Klusener removed dangerous looking T Sudhindra, who along with wicket-keeper batsman D Yagnik kept their team in the hunt after a middle-order collapse.
Giants began well with openers Avishka Gunawardene (35) and M Mishra (27) scoring 41-runs in just four overs.
M Hayward drew the first blood by sending back Mishra when he had him caught by skipper Craig McMillan.
Then spinner Upul Chandana (3/15) ran through the middle-order by claiming wickets of compatriot Gunawardene, Dhruv Mahajan (12) and rival skipper Marvan Atapattu (9).
Giants innings never got stable after this as they lose wickets at regular intervals.
Earlier, Klusner hit an unbeaten 62 to help Tigers reach a competitive 142 for four in 20 overs.
Klusner shared a 57-run stand with opener Deep Dasgupta (35) and then weaved important 49-run partnership with skipper McMillan (21).
Shane Bond was the only bowler from the Giants side, who looked impressive, though he went wicket-less.