Super Over Rules in Cricket: How a Tied Match Is Decided
A super over is a one-over shoot-out used to settle a tied ODI or T20 match. Each team faces six legal balls, and the team with more runs wins.
The basic rules
- Each team bats for one over and nominates three batters.
- The innings ends after six legal balls or when two wickets fall.
- The team that batted second in the match bats first in the super over.
- The fielding captain chooses who bowls the over.
Wides and no-balls count as extras and must be rebowled, just as in the main match, and a no-ball brings a free hit.
What if the super over is tied?
Since October 2019, the answer is simple: play another super over, and keep going until there is a winner. In each new super over, any batter dismissed in the previous one cannot bat, and the bowler who bowled the previous one cannot bowl.
Tournament organisers can set limits for time reasons, but in ICC events the aim is always to finish with a clear winner.
The 2019 World Cup final
The change followed the 2019 men's World Cup final at Lord's. England and New Zealand were level after 50 overs each, and level again after the super over, both on 15. Under the rules at the time, England won because they had hit more boundaries in the match. The result was widely criticised, and the ICC replaced the boundary count with repeated super overs a few months later.
Super over strategy
With only six balls, teams send in their biggest hitters and choose a bowler who can land yorkers under pressure. Two quick wickets end the innings early, so batters must balance risk: a target of 12 or more usually needs at least one boundary every two balls.
Super overs in the IPL
The IPL uses the same repeated super over rule. In 2020, Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab needed two super overs to finish one match, and the second super over decided it.
Want to try it yourself? Play our Super Over batting game, and read about the other famous tie-breaker, the DLS method.