THE Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) attended a masterclass in psychological warfare during the 34th match of BBL|15 like the Melbourne Stars welcomed the Adelaide Forwards on January 13, 2026. In a high-stakes encounter where every run counted, it wasn’t just the swing of the ball or the spinning throw that dictated the flow of play, it was the chatter behind the stumps. In a sequence that has since gone viral, the Stars goalkeeper Sam Harper orchestrated one of the most clinical dismissals in Big Bash history, leading to the downfall of Lloyd Pope.
Sam Harper’s cheeky sled outdoes Lloyd Pope in BBL|15
The decisive moment of the first innings came in the 14th over, with the Adelaide Strikers reeling at 55/8. As Pope took care of the rotation of the legs of Mitchell SwepsonHarper decided to turn up the volume. Recognizing Pope’s vulnerability and the Strikers’ desperate need for runs, Harper unleashed a relentless verbal barrage designed to tempt the latter into making an ego-driven error.
“Come on, Lloyd. Charge, big six!” Harper’s voice boomed through the microphone, a calculated challenge disguised as encouragement. The bait was out. On the fourth ball of the over (13.4), Pope succumbed to the pressure. Attempting to rise to the challenge, Pope charged down the track, looking for a massive heave at the finish line.
However, Swepson was in the plan, delivering a generous flight with a tight turn and bounce. Pope was completely beaten, only connecting with air. Harper, having already predicted the charge, collected the ball cleanly and removed the bails with clinical precision. Pope was sent packing for a 5-ball duck, leaving the Strikers in tatters at 55/9.
Here is the video:
“Come on, Lloyd. Charge, big six!”
Sam Harper gets in Lloyd Pope’s ear, and he drops the next ball 🫣 #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/6MuQuQFo3V
– KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 13, 2026
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Melbourne Stars bundle out Adelaide Strikers for just 83 runs
Pope’s dismissal was the final nail in the coffin of an Adelaide Strikers team that never found its footing. Choosing to bat first proved disastrous as the Stars bowling unit, led by Tom Curran and Swepson, dismantled the first order with surgical efficiency.
The collapse began very early when Alex Carey fell for just 3 in the second, followed quickly by the prize wicket of Chris Lynn (2), who unsuccessfully challenged a decision of LBW. At the end of the first Powerplay (4.0 overs), the Strikers were out of steam at 14/2. The middle order offered no resistance; Captain Matthew Court was caught up for 8 hours, and Jason Sangha only managed 3.
The scoreboard told the dark story of a procession to and from the pavilion:
Curran was the destroyer in chief from the start, finishing with remarkable figures of 4/10, Swepson exploited the scoreboard pressure, claiming 3/22, including the perplexed wicket of Pope, Marcus Stoinis cleaned up the tail, ending the innings at 19.3 overs by dismissing Cameron Boyce (20), leaving the Strikers with a meager total of 83 all out.
Despite a lively start to the second innings from the Strikers bowlers, with Hassan Ali And Liam Scott eliminate Harper and Campbell Kellaway early – the Stars remain big favorites. With a target of just 84, the Melbourne Stars turned this BBL clash into a demonstration of how mental pressure can be just as deadly as a yorker traveling at 150km/h.
ALSO READ: Sam Harper’s electrifying 84 lifts Melbourne Stars to resounding victory over Melbourne Renegades.
