The Ramp and Scoop Shot in Cricket: Over the Keeper's Head

What Is the Ramp/Scoop Shot?

The ramp (also called the scoop or Dilscoop after Sri Lankan batter Tillakaratne Dilshan who popularised it) is an unorthodox shot that deflects the ball over the wicketkeeper's head toward the fine leg or third man boundary. The batter gets inside the line of the delivery and uses the bat face to scoop or ramp the ball up and over the keeper.

Technique

1. As the bowler delivers, the batter moves inside the line — toward off stump
2. Lower the body and get the bat face beneath the ball's line
3. Swing the bat upward at a steep angle to scoop the ball
4. The ball deflects up and over the wicketkeeper's head
5. Target: fine leg or third man boundary (approximately 120–160 degrees)

The Dilscoop Legacy

Tillakaratne Dilshan was the first batter to deploy the scoop extensively in international cricket during the 2009 ICC World Twenty20. His success led to the shot becoming known as the 'Dilscoop' and inspired a generation of T20 batters. Other prominent exponents include AB de Villiers, Jos Buttler, and Rohit Sharma.

Counter Strategies

Bowlers counter the ramp by bowling fuller — making it harder to get the bat under the ball — or by targeting the batter's body, preventing them from getting inside the line. Fielding captains often place a short fine leg inside the circle specifically to catch the top edge off a mistimed ramp.