Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) A masterclass in psychological warfare was witnessed during the 34th match of the BBL|15 In form of melbourne stars hosted by adelaide strikers On January 13, 2026. In a high-stakes encounter where every run mattered, it was not just the swinging ball or the turning pitch that dictated the flow of the game – it was the conversation behind the stumps. In a sequence that has since gone viral, the Stars wicketkeeper Sam Harper One of the most clinical mind game dismissals in Big Bash history was planned which led to its downfall lloyd pope.
Sam Harper’s cheeky sledging defeats Lloyd Pope in BBL|15
The decisive moment of the first innings came in the 14th over, when Adelaide Strikers were 55/8. As Pope defends himself against leg-spin Michelle SwepsonHarper decided to turn up the volume. Recognizing Pope’s weakness and the Strikers’ desperate need for runs, Harper began a sustained verbal attack to provoke the tail-ender into an ego-driven mistake.
“Come on, Lloyd. Charge up, Big Six!” Harper’s voice echoed through the stump microphone, a calculated courage disguised as encouragement. The bait was set. On the fourth ball of the over (13.4), the Pope bowed to pressure. Attempting to rise to the challenge, Pope stormed the track in search of a massive surge across the line.
However, Swepson was in on the plan, delivering a generous flight ball with sharp turn and bounce. The Pope was comprehensively beaten, connecting only to the air. Harper, anticipating the charge, collected the ball cleanly and beat the bails with clinical accuracy. Pope was sent out for a duck in 5 balls, leaving the Strikers’ score at 55/9.
Here is the video:
“Come on, Lloyd. Charge up, Big Six!”
Sam Harper gets into Lloyd Pope’s ear, and he drops the next ball. #bbl15 pic.twitter.com/6MuQuQFo3V
– KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) 13 January 2026
Melbourne Stars bowled out Adelaide Strikers for just 83 runs.
Pope’s dismissal was the final nail in the coffin for an Adelaide Strikers team that never found its footing. Choosing to bat first proved disastrous under the leadership of the Stars’ bowling unit tom curran And Swepson demolished the top order with surgical efficiency.
The fall began early when alex carey Fell for just 3 runs in the second over, soon got the prize wicket after this. Chris Lynn (2), who unsuccessfully challenged the 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 Caught behind the wicket for 8 runs, and jason sangha Only 3 managed.
The scorecard told a grim tale of the procession marching to the pavilion:
Curran was the main destroyer early on, finishing with notable figures of 4/10, Swepson took advantage of the scoreboard pressure, claiming 3/22, including the stumped wicket of Pope, marcus stoinis Clean bowled by dismissing the tail batsmen and ending the innings in 19.3 overs. cameron boyce (20), leaving the Strikers all out for a total of 83.
Despite a strong start by the Strikers’ bowlers in the second innings Hasan Ali And liam scott Harper’s removal and campbell callaway The early-stars remain the heavy favourites. With a target of just 84 runs, Melbourne Stars have turned this BBL encounter into a demonstration of how mental pressure can be as lethal as a 150 kmph yorker.
