SYDNEY, Australia (CMC):Off-spinner Sunil Narine's miserly spell was not enough to prevent Sydney Sixers from defeat to Perth Scorchers, in the Australian Big Bash League here yesterday.

The right-armer sent down four overs for 16 runs, but the visitors still managed to sneak a seven-wicket win at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with four balls to spare.

Sent in to bat, Narine's Sixers were restricted to 113 for nine off their 20 overs.

They were in calamity at 28 for six in the 10th over before seasoned first-class player Dominic Thornely (29), former Test star Brett Lee (22 not out) and Ian Moran (20) arrived to see the score past 100.

South African Herschelle Gibbs (40) and Shaun Marsh (26) then put on a run-a-ball 51 for the first wicket to put Perth on course for victory.

Introduced in the fourth over of the innings, Narine slowed the pace of scoring with two stingy overs. By the time he was recalled later in the innings, Perth were nearing victory through a 49-run, second wicket stand between Gibbs and Marcus North (23).

The season is Narine's first in the Big Bash League.