Barrow’s Liam Livingstone missed out on a place in the Big Bash League finals with Perth Scorchers, after they lost to Sydney Thunder by seven wickets in a rain-affected game.

The weather initially reduced the match at the Sydney Showground Stadium to 15 overs per side and the Scorchers were restricted to 99-4, with Livingstone making 20 for the visitors.

More rain meant the Thunder’s target was adjusted to 96 off 12 overs by the DLS method and they reached this with two deliveries to spare thanks to England one-day international Alex Hales thrashing 47 off 27 balls.

The Thunder took the pace off their bowling to frustrate the Scorchers, as Livingstone took 27 deliveries to make his total before he edged Chris Tremain through to wicketkeeper Jay Lenton.

Cameron Bancroft’s 35 not out moved the visitors towards something approaching competitive, but Hales struck four fours and two sixes to put the Thunder ahead of the required run-rate.

However, the hosts needed some final-over heroics from Chris Morris, who smashed Matthew Kelly for six over long on before striking the winning runs with a cover drive for four.

That left Scorchers sweating on the result of Hobart Hurricanes’ match at Adelaide Strikers and a sensational unbeaten 130 off 61 balls by Matthew Wade inspired his side to a ten-run victory, as they defended 217-1 to leave Perth sixth in the final standings.