Overthrows in Cricket — Rules, Boundary Overthrows & the 2019 WC Controversy
An overthrow occurs when a fielder's throw misses the target and runs away, allowing batters extra runs. Learn how overthrows are scored, the boundary rule, and the 2019 World Cup final controversy.
An overthrow occurs when a fielder's throw aimed at the stumps or to another fielder goes wide and rolls away, allowing the batters to take additional runs beyond what they had already run. Overthrows can be a significant source of extra runs — and in rare cases, they reach the boundary, awarding 4 or 6 runs automatically.
How Overthrow Runs Are Counted
- The runs already completed by the batters when the throw was made are added to the overthrow runs
- If the batters were mid-run (between wickets) when the throw was made, they count the completed run AND any runs from the overthrow
- If the overthrow reaches the boundary, the boundary value (4 or 6) is added to the runs already completed — even if the batters haven't crossed yet
- Overthrow runs are added to the batter's score (not extras) if the ball was hit by the bat before being thrown
The 2019 World Cup Final — The Controversial Overthrow
The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup final between England and New Zealand produced one of cricket's most controversial moments. With England needing 9 off the last 3 balls, Ben Stokes hit the ball towards the outfield and ran. His partner ran back, and as Stokes dived, the throw from Martin Guptill deflected off Stokes' outstretched bat to the boundary. England received 6 runs: 2 runs completed + 4 for the boundary.
The controversy: at the moment the throw was released, Stokes had not completed his second run — meaning, under strict Law interpretation, only 1 run had been completed (not 2) and the correct total should have been 5 (1+4), not 6. The umpires awarded 6. England won the super over (also tied) on boundary countback. New Zealand may have lost the World Cup due to a 1-run error. The ICC reviewed the incident; they confirmed the umpire's ruling was incorrect but noted umpires' mistakes during live play are not reversible.
Deliberate Overthrows
If a fielder deliberately deflects the ball to prevent a run-out — for example, intentionally kicking the ball away from the stumps — the umpire can award 5 penalty runs to the batting side for fielding misconduct. This is rare but illustrates how the Laws protect against intentional gamesmanship.
Frequently asked questions
Who scores the overthrow runs — the batter who hit, or the one running?
Overthrow runs are credited to the batter who originally hit the ball (if it came off the bat). If the ball was not hit (e.g. an overthrow from a run-out attempt on a wide or no-ball), the runs go to extras. The running batters each keep their position at the end.
Can an overthrow reach a six?
Yes. If an overthrow clears the boundary in the air (without bouncing), it counts as 6 runs from the overthrow. This is extremely rare but not impossible.
Are overthrow runs credited to any bowler's economy rate?
Yes — overthrow runs (if hit off the bat) are charged to the bowler's economy rate since they are credited to the batter. If they go as extras (leg byes etc.), they are not.