How Sixes Are Scored: Boundary Rope Rules and Scoring Edge Cases
The Laws for scoring a six — the boundary-rope definition, what happens if a fielder touches the boundary rope while completing a catch, the difference between a six and a four boundary, the hit-out-of-the-ground scenario, and the unusual rules for boundaries off no-balls and wides.
The Basic Six Rule
Under Law 19, six runs are awarded when the ball is hit by the bat and clears the boundary without first landing inside the boundary. The ball must land beyond (or on the boundary line itself) without bouncing inside the playing area — a ball that bounces once inside and then clears the boundary is a four (not a six). The boundary for six purposes is the edge of the playing surface, typically marked by a rope, advertising boards, or a painted line at the field perimeter.
If a fielder touches the boundary rope while attempting to complete a catch, the ball is dead and six runs are awarded — even if the fielder subsequently completes what appears to be a clean catch. The fielder's contact with the boundary rope constitutes a boundary, ending the play at that point. This rule has produced dramatic situations: a fielder who reaches beyond the boundary rope to catch the ball (without their feet touching the rope or ground beyond it) can legally take the catch — but if any part of their body touches the rope during the process, it is six.
Fielder at the Boundary: The Athletic Exception
A fielder can legally take a catch beyond the boundary — if they jump from inside the boundary, catch the ball, return to inside the boundary (without touching the ground outside), and then complete the dismissal — the batsman is out. This athletic manoeuvre (sometimes called the 'relay catch' variant for boundary catches) requires the fielder to remain airborne during the period they are beyond the boundary. The rule has produced some extraordinary fielding in T20 cricket: players who leap from inside the boundary, catch the ball, throw it back into the field, land outside the boundary, re-enter the field, and catch the re-thrown ball have been legally dismissed the batsman.
The specific rule (Law 19.5): if a fielder catches the ball while having any part of their body in contact with the ground outside the boundary, it is a six. If they are airborne during the catch (no ground contact outside the boundary) but then land outside, it is also a six. The only way to take a valid catch beyond the boundary is to remain in contact with the inside-boundary ground throughout — or to execute the return-throw relay within the boundary.
Sixes off No-Balls and Wides
A ball that is called a wide and then cleared the boundary is scored as a wide + 6 = 7 runs for the batting team. A ball called a no-ball that is hit for six scores the no-ball penalty (1 run) plus 6 runs = 7 runs total. In both cases, the batsman's batting score includes only the 6 runs from the shot — the penalty runs are recorded as extras (wides or no-balls). The wide or no-ball call does not negate the six; both the boundary and the penalty apply simultaneously.
Six vs Four: The Boundary Decision
Whether a boundary is four or six depends on whether the ball crosses the boundary without landing inside it. Umpires watch specifically for: balls that are played in the air and appear to land on or near the rope (four potential); balls hit flat that 'skim' the rope boundary (four, as the ball has touched the inside ground); and balls hit on the full that clear the rope (six). In close cases — particularly when the ball lands very close to the rope — the third umpire uses video replay to determine whether the ball touched the ground inside the boundary (four) or cleared it (six).
Frequently asked questions
Are overthrows capped at 6 if they reach the boundary?
No — overthrows that reach the boundary score 4 (boundary) in addition to any runs already scored from the original hit. If the batsmen were running when the fielder threw and the throw went to the boundary, the 4 overthrow runs are added to the runs already completed. However, there is a specific rule: the 4 overthrow runs go toward the batsmen's count only for the runs completed before the ball crossed the boundary, not the full run count at the time the ball reaches the boundary. This prevents batsmen from retroactively 'completing' runs they were not in the process of running when the boundary was crossed.
What counts as 'the boundary' if there is no rope?
In matches without a boundary rope (typically lower-level cricket), the boundary is the edge of the playing surface — typically the line where the cut grass of the outfield meets the rougher ground beyond. Umpires determine whether a ball has crossed this boundary, which creates more interpretive challenges than when a physical rope is present. At international level, boundary ropes are mandatory per ICC regulations.
Has the six-hitting record changed dramatically with modern bats?
Yes — the average number of sixes per match in international T20I cricket has roughly doubled from the 2007-2010 era to the 2020s, driven by heavier bat edges, more aggressive batting technique, improved athletic power in batsmen, and shorter boundaries at some modern international venues. The record for most sixes in a T20I innings is 17 (shared by several players as of August 2025). ODI six records have similarly increased.