Super Over in Cricket — Rules, Famous Super Overs and Strategy
What a Super Over is in T20 and ODI cricket, how it is played, which teams bat and bowl first, and the most famous Super Overs in international cricket history.
A Super Over is cricket's tied-match decider in limited-overs formats. When both teams score the same number of runs in their respective innings, a Super Over determines the winner — each team nominates two batters and one bowler, plays one over each, and the team with more runs wins.
Super Over Rules
Format: each team bats for one over (6 deliveries). Only two batters are used; if one is dismissed, the other bats with a new partner until the over is complete. One bowler is nominated. The fielding team can set any field they choose. If a wide or no-ball is bowled, an extra delivery is added (same as a normal over). The team that scores more runs in the Super Over wins. If the Super Over is also tied, additional Super Overs are played (in most current competitions).
Who Bats First in a Super Over?
The team that batted second in the main match (the chasing team) bats first in the Super Over — this is the standard rule in most ICC competitions. This gives the Super Over its logic: the team that chased bats first, sets a target, and the team that batted first in the main match chases in the Super Over.
Famous Super Overs
2019 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Final (Lord's): England vs New Zealand — tied at 241 each after 50 overs. Super Over also tied at 15-15. England won on boundary count (26 boundaries vs 17), which was later replaced with further Super Overs in most competitions. 2020 T20I: New Zealand vs West Indies — West Indies won a tied T20I with a dramatic Super Over, Henry Walsh hitting the winning runs. 2022 Women's T20 World Cup: multiple Super Overs across the tournament — becoming the first Women's T20 World Cup to use Super Overs extensively.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Super Over apply in Test cricket?
No — Super Overs are exclusive to T20 and ODI cricket. Test matches can end in a draw (time runs out) or a tie (scores level with all wickets down). There is no Super Over in Tests.
Can a player who is injured still bat in a Super Over?
ICC rules specify that the nominated Super Over players must be available to bat — a player who retired hurt in the main innings may bat in the Super Over if they are fit.
Has a Super Over ever produced another Super Over?
Yes — there have been cases in domestic competitions (e.g. BBL in Australia) where the Super Over was also tied, requiring a second Super Over. Under current ICC rules, this continues until one team wins.