Super Overs in Cricket Explained
How super overs work in cricket — the rules, tie-breaker scenarios, famous super over moments, and what happens if the super over is also tied.
A super over is a one-over eliminator used to break a tied match in limited-overs cricket. Each team sends in two batters to score as many runs as possible in a single over (6 legal balls), with any wickets taken removing that batter. The team scoring more runs in their super over wins. If the super over is also tied, a further super over may be bowled.
Super Over Rules
- Each team selects any two batters for the super over — they do not need to have batted in the main innings.
- The batting team loses a 'wicket' (and the batter is replaced) for every dismissal. Two dismissals end the super over regardless of balls remaining.
- Any bowler who is eligible can bowl the super over (subject to their normal over limits being reset for this purpose).
- The team batting second in the main match bats second in the super over — same as the main match.
- All runs off wides and no-balls count, as in a normal over.
The 2019 ICC World Cup Final
The most famous super over in history occurred in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup Final between England and New Zealand at Lord's. Both the main match and the super over finished tied. England were declared winners under a now-retired rule that gave victory to the team with more boundaries across the entire match. The ICC subsequently abolished the boundary countback rule — super overs are now rebowled if also tied.
Super Overs in T20 Leagues
Super overs are more common in T20 franchise cricket, where tight matches between evenly matched sides frequently end in ties. The IPL, BBL, and other leagues use super overs regularly. The spectacle of a super over — six high-pressure deliveries with the match on the line — is one of the most dramatic situations in cricket.
What Happens if the Super Over is Tied?
Under ICC playing conditions from 2019 onwards, if the super over is also tied, a further super over is bowled. This continues until one team wins. There is no limit on the number of super overs — though this situation is theoretically possible, it has occurred very rarely in professional cricket.
Frequently asked questions
What is a super over in cricket?
A super over is a one-over tiebreaker used when a limited-overs cricket match ends in a tie. Each team bats for one over with two batters, and the team scoring more runs wins. Any wicket taken removes the dismissed batter and brings in a replacement; two wickets ends the super over.
Who won the 2019 World Cup final super over?
England and New Zealand tied both the main match and the super over in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup Final. England were declared winners under the boundary countback rule (England had hit more fours and sixes across the match). The ICC subsequently abolished the boundary countback rule — all future ties in super overs result in another super over.
Can the same batter bat in the super over and the main innings?
Yes — any batter can be selected for the super over regardless of whether or how they batted in the main innings. Teams often select their two most destructive power-hitters, even if those players were already dismissed.
Is there a super over in Test cricket?
No — Test matches do not use super overs. A tied Test match (both teams scoring exactly the same total across both innings) simply ends as a tie, which is one of the rarest results in all of cricket.