The super over is one of cricket’s most dramatic moments — six balls, two wickets, the entire match reduced to a single over. It has produced some of the most memorable moments in the sport’s recent history, including the extraordinary 2019 Cricket World Cup final between England and New Zealand that was ultimately decided by boundary count after the super over itself finished level.
For bettors, the super over is also one of the most nuanced situations to navigate. Whether your match winner bet carries over into the super over, whether in-play markets remain open, and how bookmakers settle tied matches all depend on the specific bookmaker’s rules and the competition in question.
This guide explains the super over rules in full, covers the most significant examples in cricket history, and explains exactly what happens to your bets when a match goes to a super over.
What Is a Super Over?
A super over is a one-over eliminator used in limited-overs cricket — primarily T20 and One Day International (ODI) formats — to break a tie when both teams have scored the same number of runs at the end of their respective innings.
The basic mechanics:
- Each team faces exactly one over (six deliveries) from a single bowler
- Each team has two wickets — if both are lost before the over is completed, that team’s super over ends immediately with however many runs they have scored
- The team scoring more runs in the super over wins the match
- The batting team chooses which two batters open; the bowling team chooses which bowler bowls
- The team that batted second in the main match bats first in the super over
- If the super over itself is also tied, the rules vary by competition (see below)
Super Over Rules by Competition
T20 International Cricket (ICC Rules)
The ICC’s current playing conditions for T20 Internationals use the super over as the first tie-breaking method. If the super over is also tied, successive super overs are played until a result is produced. There is no boundary count backup in ICC T20I conditions — successive super overs continue until one team scores more.
ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup (ODI)
The super over is used in knockout stage matches only. Group stage matches that finish in a tie are recorded as a tie — both teams receive equal points. In the knockout stages, a tied match goes to a super over, and if the super over is also tied, the team that scored more boundaries in the entire match (including the super over) advances. This is the rule that decided the 2019 World Cup final.
Indian Premier League (IPL)
Super overs are used in IPL eliminator scenarios with specific rules governing which teams are eligible to bowl and bat. If the super over is tied, the team with the higher score from the main innings wins. The IPL has used multiple consecutive super overs in its history.
The Hundred
The Hundred uses a five-ball eliminator rather than a six-ball super over. The principle is identical — each team faces five balls with two wickets — but the terminology and format differ. Bettors should check which competition they are watching, as some bookmaker settlement rules reference “super over” specifically and may or may not extend to The Hundred’s five-ball eliminator.
County T20 Blast (England)
The Vitality Blast uses super overs in knockout matches. Group stage ties are split by points. Super overs in the Blast follow the standard ICC T20 format — six balls, two wickets.
The Most Significant Super Overs in Cricket History
2019 ICC World Cup Final — England vs. New Zealand
The most famous super over in cricket history and one of the most extraordinary moments in any sport. Both teams — England and New Zealand — scored 241 runs in 50 overs each, producing only the second tied World Cup final ever played. The super over itself also finished level: both England and New Zealand scored 15 runs from their respective super overs.
The match was then decided by boundary count. England had scored 26 boundaries in the match (including the super over); New Zealand had scored 17. England were crowned World Champions.
This match directly prompted the ICC to review its tie-breaking rules. Successive super overs — rather than boundary count — are now the ICC’s preferred tie-breaking method in T20 format, and the boundary count backup remains only in specific competition rules.
Betting significance: The 2019 World Cup final is the defining example of why bookmakers’ settlement rules for tied matches matter. Bets placed on the match winner had to navigate a tied main match, a tied super over, and then settlement based on a statistical count rather than a cricket result. Each bookmaker handled settlement differently depending on their specific match rules.
2016 IPL Final — Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore
A high-stakes super over in the IPL final, won by Sunrisers Hyderabad. Demonstrated that super overs are not exclusively a rarity at international level — they occur in franchise T20 cricket with some frequency due to the high-scoring, last-over nature of the format.
2010 T20 World Cup — Pakistan vs. Australia and South Africa vs. West Indies
Multiple super overs in a single tournament, highlighting that the format was becoming a regular part of T20 cricket’s vocabulary. Prompted further standardisation of super over rules across competitions.
How Bookmakers Settle Bets When a Super Over Occurs
This is the most practically important section for bettors. Settlement rules for super overs are not uniform across bookmakers — they vary, and checking the specific rules of your operator before a match is essential.
Match Winner (Outright) Bets
Most common settlement approach: The super over counts. The bookmaker settles the match winner bet based on the final result after the super over — the team that wins the super over is credited with the match win.
Less common approach (some bookmakers, some competitions): The match is settled as a tie if the main innings are level, and match winner bets are voided with stakes returned — the super over is treated as a separate resolution mechanism rather than part of the match.
What to check: Your bookmaker’s cricket rules for the specific competition. Search for “super over” in the rules section. Most major UKGC-licensed bookmakers now clearly state whether super over results count for match winner settlement.
In-Play Betting During a Super Over
Super overs create a specific in-play betting situation. Most bookmakers suspend their in-play markets when a super over begins — particularly for match winner and in-play runs markets — and reopen them during the super over with revised pricing.
Some operators void all unresolved in-play bets placed during normal play if a super over is triggered, treating the super over as an event that could not have been anticipated at the time of placement. Others honour pre-super over in-play bets and settle on the final result.
The practical implication: If you have an open in-play position when the scores are tied at the end of regulation and a super over is announced, check your bookmaker’s in-play rules immediately. Do not assume your bet will be settled in your favour regardless of the super over result.
Top Tournament Batter and Bowler Markets
These are typically unaffected by super overs — runs scored and wickets taken in a super over usually count toward individual tournament statistics. Confirm with your bookmaker for the specific competition, as some tournament statistics are compiled from main innings only.
Man of the Match Markets
Super over performance is generally included in Man of the Match assessments, as the official award covers the entire match including the super over. A batter who scores 8 from 3 balls to win a super over is likely to receive consideration for the award.
Betting on Super Overs Specifically
Some bookmakers offer markets specifically on whether a match will go to a super over — effectively a tied match result market — for T20 fixtures with genuinely balanced teams.
What the data shows: Super overs are rare but not negligible in T20 cricket. Approximately 1–2% of T20 International and major franchise T20 matches result in a super over being required. This frequency is low enough that super over likelihood markets carry significant uncertainty, and bookmakers tend to price them at long odds (15/1–25/1 for most fixtures) that may not always reflect accurate probability.
In closely matched fixtures — a T20 International between two teams of similar ranking, a high-stakes IPL knockout between evenly matched franchises — super over probability is higher than the general average. Whether the bookmaker’s price reflects this adequately requires case-by-case assessment.
Super Over Strategy: What Determines the Winner
Understanding what factors influence super over outcomes matters both for cricket knowledge and for in-play betting assessment when markets remain open during the super over.
Batting in the Super Over
Wicket conservation is the priority constraint. With only two wickets available, both batters must survive the full over for the team to maximise runs. A team that loses a wicket early — particularly their primary power hitter — is severely disadvantaged.
Powerplay conditions apply. Fielding restrictions are in effect during the super over, which favours aggressive batting. A team with specialist power hitters suited to six-hitting over placement is advantaged.
The pitch and conditions. If the pitch has deteriorated across a long match — common in sub-continental conditions — batting in the super over may be harder than the main innings suggested. The dew factor in evening fixtures under floodlights can significantly assist batting in later overs, including the super over.
Bowling in the Super Over
The bowler selection. Teams choose their best death bowler — typically a pace bowler with a strong yorker and bouncer variation, or a specialist slow bowler whose change of pace is most effective under pressure.
Knowledge of the batters. The bowling team selects their bowler knowing which two batters the opposition will send out. Strategic bowler selection — targeting a batter with a known weakness against a specific delivery type — is a meaningful factor at the highest level.
Home vs. Away Super Overs
Teams batting in front of their home crowd in a super over have some psychological advantage. This is difficult to quantify but consistent with the general home advantage in high-pressure cricket moments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the super over count for match winner bets?
At most UKGC-licensed bookmakers, yes — the super over result determines the match winner for settlement purposes. However, this varies by operator and competition. Always check your bookmaker’s cricket settlement rules, specifically the section on tied matches and super overs, before placing match winner bets on T20 or ODI fixtures where a tie is a realistic possibility.
What happens if the super over is also tied?
Depends on the competition. Under current ICC T20I playing conditions, successive super overs are played until one team scores more. In the ODI World Cup knockout stages, a tied super over results in the boundary count method being applied across the whole match. IPL rules differ again. Check the specific competition’s playing conditions.
How many balls is a super over?
Six balls per team in standard T20 and ODI formats. The Hundred uses a five-ball eliminator instead. Each team has two wickets available — if both are lost before the over is complete, batting ends early with the runs scored so far.
Who bats first in the super over?
The team that batted second in the main innings bats first in the super over. This is consistent with the standard toss and follow-on logic — the team chasing a target in regulation play goes first in the super over.
Are super overs used in Test cricket?
No. Test cricket does not use super overs — a Test match that ends in a tie (both teams dismissed for the same total in their second innings) or a draw (match ends before a result is achieved) is recorded as such. Super overs are exclusively a limited-overs format mechanism.
Can I bet on super over markets specifically?
Some bookmakers offer markets on whether a match will require a super over, and a small number offer in-play markets specifically on the super over once it begins (runs scored, whether a wicket falls, etc.). Availability varies significantly by bookmaker and competition. Check the specific markets section for the fixture you are interested in.
Sources: ICC Playing Conditions (T20I and ODI); IPL Official Rules; England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Vitality Blast Playing Conditions; UK Gambling Commission. All external links verified as of March 2026.