Liam Livingstone suffered a fourth defeat in six games in the Big Bash League with Perth Scorchers, as they were beaten by eight runs by Hobart Hurricanes at the Optus Stadium.

Barrow Cricket club graduate Livingstone was the first man out for the Scorchers, after he had made 13, as the hosts were unable to recover from an awful start to their run chase.

They had already been given plenty to do by Darcy Short, who batted through the entirety of the Hurricanes’ 20 overs to finish unbeaten on 103 off 70 balls that included three fours and seven sixes.

He was part of an opening stand worth 69 with Caleb Jewell (25) that Livingstone broke when his half-tracker was launched to Chris Jordan, who took a very good chest-high catch at the long on boundary.

Short’s continued heroics allowed Hobart to post an impressive 180-2 and Livingstone only lasted until the second over of Perth’s reply when paceman Riley Meredith’s delivery crashed into his middle stump.

The Scorchers then lost Cameron Bancroft and Josh Inglis to slump to 18-3, but a fourth-wicket partnership of 75 between captain Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green kept their hopes alive, only for them to fall on 48 and 33, respectively.

A spectacular 33 not out off just 14 balls from Jhye Richardson lit up the closing stages, but the hosts fell short on 172-8.