Super Over Explained — How Cricket's Knockout Tiebreaker Works
Super Overs decide tied limited-overs matches. Learn the rules, the two-wickets cap, how a Super Over can itself be tied, and the famous endings from World Cup history.
When a limited-overs match ends with both sides on the same score, the result isn't a draw — it's a tie, and most major tournaments resolve a tie with a Super Over. Each team gets one over to score as many as they can; whoever scores more wins. The detail is in what counts as a Super Over wicket and what happens when even that can't separate them.
The basic format
- The team that batted second in the main match bats first in the Super Over.
- Each side bowls one over of six legal balls.
- A maximum of three batters per side — losing two wickets ends the over early.
- Higher score wins. If still tied, a second Super Over is played.
The two-wickets cap
Each batting side picks three players for the Super Over and starts with two wickets in hand. Lose those two wickets and the over ends regardless of how many balls remain. The cap prevents teams from defending small totals by chipping out three or four wickets and stopping the chase dead.
What happens if the Super Over is tied
Modern ICC rules call for additional Super Overs until one side scores more than the other. Until 2019, the tiebreaker was boundary count — who hit more fours and sixes across the match plus the Super Over — but that rule was retired after the 2019 ODI World Cup final, where England beat New Zealand on boundary count after both the regulation match and the Super Over finished level.
Bowlers and bowling restrictions
- The bowler who bowled the final over of the regulation match cannot bowl the Super Over.
- A bowler cannot bowl two consecutive Super Overs in the same match. If a second one is needed, a different bowler must be used.
- Wides and no-balls add a run and force an extra delivery, just as in the main match. Free hits apply.
Famous Super Overs
- England v New Zealand, 2019 ODI World Cup final — tied at 241; Super Over also tied at 15; England won on boundary count (rule subsequently changed).
- India v New Zealand T20 series 2020 — three Super Overs across a single tour, all won by India.
- Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals IPL 2009 — the IPL's first Super Over, won by KKR.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Super Over introduced?
Super Overs were introduced for the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2008 as a way to resolve knockout-stage ties. They've since spread to ODIs, all major franchise leagues, and ICC events at every level.
Can you use any bowler in a Super Over?
Almost — the bowler who delivered the final over of the regulation innings cannot bowl the Super Over. Otherwise the captain is free to pick any of the nominated bowlers.
Do runs from a Super Over count toward NRR?
No. Super Over runs are kept separate from the main-match scorecard for NRR purposes; the regulation-overs scores enter NRR as a tie (both teams' contributions cancel).
What happens if a Super Over is tied?
Another Super Over is played, then another, until one team scores more. The previous boundary-count tiebreaker was retired after 2019.