Perth Scorchers produced their third-lowest total in Big Bash League history and were unable to defend it in a four-wicket defeat to Melbourne Renegades in their season opener tonight.

The Scorchers were sent in to bat at Marvel Stadium and were bowled out for 103 in 19 overs in an innings that never clicked into gear amid a steady stream of wickets.

Out-of-favour Test all-rounder Mitch Marsh (three) lasted just five balls in what was his only chance to impress national selectors before Boxing Day.

Marsh will remain in Melbourne with the Test squad instead of travelling to Sydney with his Scorchers teammates for Saturday’s clash with Sydney Sixers.

Michael Klinger (28 off 32) top-scored for the Scorchers, but was the only visiting batsman to make it past 13.

The Scorchers hold the BBL record for the lowest first-innings total ever defended – 7-117 against the Renegades at the WACA Ground on Boxing Day in 2013 – and threatened to pull off another remarkable victory.

Limited overs international quicks Jason Behrendorff (2-17) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (2-22) gave them a sniff by claiming two early wickets apiece to reduce the Renegades to 4-17 in the fourth over.

But inexperienced batsman Sam Harper (36 off 25) and Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi (35 off 27) steadied the home side with a 68-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Vice-captain Dan Christian (13no) hit the winning runs with 28 balls to spare to give the Renegades (6-107) their first ever triumph over the Scorchers at the ninth attempt.

Harper, who averaged 2.5 in four previous BBL innings with Melbourne Stars, only received a Renegades call-up when Test opener Aaron Finch was held out of domestic cricket because of international commitments.

The 22-year-old smashed three fours and two sixes in a striking knock before he was run out by Klinger after a mix-up with experienced recruit Christian.

Scorchers wicketkeeper Sam Whiteman (eight) opened the batting on return from a long lay-off because of complications with a finger injury and was an early casualty.

The visitors endured a nine-over drought without a regulation boundary during the middle of their innings.

The only boundary in that time was awarded to Ashton Turner in bizarre circumstances when he skied a shot the hit the stadium’s roof and earnt him six runs.

Turner (13) was caught at mid-on next ball.

Renegades vice-captain Christian (3-22) and Kane Richardson (3-22) destroyed the Scorchers, while wrist-spinner Cameron Boyce (0-13) put the clamps on in a tidy display.

Pakistani quick Usman Shinwari (2-17) removed Whiteman in the third over and Jack Wildermuth (2-13) picked up a couple of scalps, including Marsh.

It was the Scorchers’ lowest total away from home in history and lowest anywhere in almost three years.

They were bowled out for 69 by the Stars in a franchise record-low total at the WACA Ground in December 2012.