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The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) witnessed a masterclass in psychological warfare during the 34th match of BBL|15 as the Melbourne Stars hosted the Adelaide Strikers on January 13, 2026. In a high-stakes encounter where every run mattered, it wasn’t just the swinging ball or the turning pitch that dictated the flow of the game—it was the chatter behind the stumps. In a sequence that has since gone viral, Stars’ wicketkeeper Sam Harper orchestrated one of the most clinical mind game dismissals in Big Bash history, leading to the downfall of Lloyd Pope.
Sam Harper’s cheeky sledging outsmarts Lloyd Pope in BBL|15
The defining moment of the first innings occurred in the 14th over, with the Adelaide Strikers reeling at 55/8. As Pope took his guard against the leg-spin of Mitchell Swepson, Harper decided to turn up the volume. Recognizing Pope’s vulnerability and the Strikers’ desperate need for runs, Harper began a relentless verbal barrage designed to bait the tail-ender into an ego-driven mistake.
“Come on, Lloyd. Charge, big six!” Harper’s voice echoed through the stump microphone, a calculated dare disguised as encouragement. The bait was set. On the fourth ball of the over (13.4), Pope succumbed to the pressure. Attempting to live up to the challenge, Pope charged down the track, looking for a massive heave across the line.
However, Swepson was in on the plan, delivering a generously flighted ball with sharp turn and bounce. Pope was beaten comprehensively, connecting only with thin air. Harper, having already predicted the charge, gathered the ball cleanly and whipped off the bails with clinical precision. Pope was sent packing for a 5-ball duck, leaving the Strikers in absolute tatters at 55/9.
Here’s the video:
"Come on, Lloyd. Charge, big six!"
Sam Harper gets into Lloyd Pope's ear, and he falls the next ball 🫣
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL)
Also READ: Chris Green sizzles as Sydney Thunder beat Melbourne Renegades in rain-hit clash
Melbourne Stars bundle out Adelaide Strikers for a mere 83 runs
The dismissal of Pope was the final nail in the coffin for an Adelaide Strikers side that never found their footing. Choosing to bat first proved disastrous as the Stars’ bowling unit, led by Tom Curran and Swepson, dismantled the top order with surgical efficiency.
The collapse began early when Alex Carey fell for just 3 in the second over, followed quickly by the prize wicket of Chris Lynn (2), who unsuccessfully challenged an LBW decision. By the end of the first Powerplay (4.0 overs), the Strikers were gasping at 14/2. The middle order offered no resistance; Captain Matthew Short was caught behind for 8, and Jason Sangha managed only 3.
The scorecard told a grim story of a processional march to and from the pavilion:
Curran was the chief destroyer early on, finishing with remarkable figures of 4/10, Swepson exploited the scoreboard pressure, claiming 3/22, including the stumped wicket of Pope, Marcus Stoinis cleaned up the tail, finishing the innings at 19.3 overs by dismissing Cameron Boyce (20), leaving the Strikers with a meager total of 83 all out.
Despite a spirited start to the second innings from the Strikers’ bowlers, with Hasan Ali and Liam Scott removing Harper and Campbell Kellaway early—the Stars remain heavy favourites. With a target of only 84, the Melbourne Stars have turned this BBL clash into a demonstration of how mental pressure can be just as lethal as a 150kph yorker.
