Powerplay Rules — How Powerplays Work in T20 and ODI Cricket
Powerplays cap how many fielders can defend the boundary in the early overs of limited-overs cricket. Learn the T20 powerplay, the three ODI phases, and how teams attack and defend through each.
Powerplays are the fielding-restriction phases that force the bowling side to keep fielders inside the 30-yard circle during the early overs of a limited-overs innings. They're cricket's answer to making the start of an innings exciting — bowlers have less protection, batters can find the boundaries more easily, and the run rate typically races above seven an over in T20s.
T20 powerplay
In Twenty20 cricket the powerplay covers the first six overs of each innings. During those six overs, only two fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Everyone else has to be inside the inner ring or in the catching cordon.
The result: opening batters look for boundaries from ball one. The combined run rate across both sides in the T20 powerplay typically sits around 8.0–9.0 an over, and a side losing two wickets inside the powerplay is usually setting up a poor total.
ODI powerplay — three phases
One-day cricket splits the 50 overs into three distinct fielding phases.
| Phase | Overs | Fielders outside the circle |
|---|---|---|
| Powerplay 1 | 1–10 | Maximum 2 |
| Powerplay 2 | 11–40 | Maximum 4 |
| Powerplay 3 | 41–50 | Maximum 5 |
Powerplay 1 is the most attacking phase, similar to the T20 powerplay. Powerplay 2 is the long middle phase where partnerships build. Powerplay 3 — the final ten overs — is the slog, with bowlers usually conceding 9–12 an over despite the extra fielder on the rope.
Strategic implications
Batting side
- Maximise the first powerplay — small price for ambition, big reward.
- Rotate strike in the middle phase, build wickets in hand for the death.
- Death-over batters need to clear the inner ring — that's now harder with five fielders on the boundary.
Bowling side
- Powerplay bowlers attack the stumps to take the boundary out of play — wickets cost less than runs.
- Spinners in the middle phase look for run-out chances and target dot balls.
- Death bowlers use yorkers and slower-ball variations to deny the boundary.
Recent rule tweaks
ODI fielding restrictions were last simplified in 2015. The Hundred uses its own variant — a five-over powerplay with two fielders outside the circle — to match its shorter, faster shape.
Frequently asked questions
How many fielders are allowed outside the circle in a T20 powerplay?
Two. For the first six overs of a T20 innings, only two fielders may be positioned outside the 30-yard circle. The other seven fielders (excluding the bowler and wicketkeeper) must be inside.
How many overs is the T20 powerplay?
Six overs in a 20-over innings — exactly 30% of the innings. The Hundred uses a five-ball-over format with a 25-ball powerplay, roughly the same proportion.
Are there powerplays in Test cricket?
No. Test cricket has no fielding restrictions of this kind — captains are free to set whatever field they choose at any point in the day.
What's the highest powerplay score in T20 cricket?
Scores above 80/0 in the powerplay are rare but not unheard of. Pakistan posted 100/0 against Bangladesh in 2022, which is one of the highest first-six-over scores in international T20 history.