IT’S not easy to get one over Kevin Pietersen in the sledging department, but James Faulkner managed to do just that.

The Australian all-rounder is a teammate of Pietersen’s at the Melbourne Stars in this season’s 20/20 Big Bash League, and the pair have a love/hate relationshp to say the least. The friendly banter between the two continued following the Stars’ loss to the Adelaide Strikers on Friday night at the Adelaide Oval.

The Strikers won by 19 runs as their total of 5-187 proved too big an ask for the visitors. Pietersen scored 22 from 17 balls at number three, while Faulkner finished unbeaten with a run-a-ball 10.

Pietersen flew back to Melbourne on Saturday with his teammates and enjoyed some extra leg room by sitting in the exit row. So, Faulkner took to Twitter to make light of the former English star’s contribution in their team’s opening match of the season.

Heavy legs from your performance last night Kev?? Need the extra room??? @KP24 pic.twitter.com/FwVANJ49NS — James Faulkner (@JamesFaulkner44) December 19, 2015

Not one to go down without a fight, KP then blamed the 25-year-old for failing to see the Stars over the line.

Faulkner’s performances with the bat for Australia, where he has consistently seen his side over the line in tight run chases, have earnt him the reputation as “The Finisher” in the Michael Bevan mould. But he wasn’t able to produce the goods on Friday, and Pietersen wasn’t going to let him forget it.

10 off 10 last night, Cock?!?! You meant to be the FINISHER?! Be happy we taking you back to Melbourne! https://t.co/pjahc1jT6S — Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) December 19, 2015

But it was game, set, match when Faulkner produced this gem of a hashtag, hitting the 35-year-old where it hurt most.

The South African-born right hander’s international career nosedived after England’s humiliating whitewash defeat in the 2013-2014 Ashes series in Australia. He was dropped from the national team despite being England’s leading run-scorer in the series, because of souring relationships with the coaching staff, fellow players and the ECB.

Since then he has continued to publicly voice his desire to play international cricket again, but he’s never received the call-up and has been resigned to playing as a 20/20 gun-for-hire in domestic competitions in Australia and South Africa.

The Stars’ next match is against the Sydney Thunder on Sunday December 20.