Sixers narrow race for top spot in tight win

Sean Abbott has bowled the Sydney Sixers to a crucial six-run win over the Perth Scorchers to help narrow the gap at the top of the KFC BBL|12 ladder to one point.

With the visitors chasing 152 for victory, opener Stephen Eskinazi's unbeaten 66 from 54 balls was not enough in a match in which both teams battled to get going at the SCG.

Abbott was the star for the hosts claiming 3-18, with his tight return coming despite three of his overs being bowled in power-surge overs.

Dan Christian claimed 2-7 with the penultimate over, before Hayden Kerr (2-31) successfully defended the 16 required from the final over to leave the Scorchers 7-145.

Abbott removed Cameron Bancroft and Aaron Hardie in his opening spell for one run apiece, removing the latter with a ball that seamed back slightly to take off stump.

He then earned the crucial wicket of Nick Hobson late in the chase on the legside boundary, as the left-hander threatened to put the Scorchers on track for victory.

Hobson's 27 from 18 balls included two big sixes off Nathan Lyon, including one which went into the vacant top tier of the Brewongle Stand.

It came in Lyon's return to the BBL from Test duties, with Australia's newest squad member Todd Murphy squeezed out as the Sixers retained Steve O'Keefe.

Murphy had taken five wickets this season and conceded less than a run a ball, but now faces a fight to regain his spot before leaving for India.

Earlier, Steve Smith showed why he is valuable to the BBL in the Sixers' 5-151.

In his first match back in three seasons, Smith hit four boundaries and two sixes in his 36 off 27 balls, as opening partner Josh Philippe also made 57 off 48.

The pick of Smith's shots was was a slog sweep for six off Ashton Agar, while he also played a superb back-foot drive off David Payne.

Another six came when he hooked Behrendorff over backward-square leg.

And while he fell, caught at cover, off Peter Hatzoglou (2-27), his and Lyon's returns helped the Sixers to their biggest crowd of the summer with 20,304 fans.

The Sixers win keeps alive their hopes of claiming top spot on the BBL ladder with three games to go, which would earn them hosting rights for the qualifier.