A Super Over in cricket is used to determine the winner when a match is tied, and the applicable playing conditions provide for a Super Over. Under the ICC procedure, each team faces one over of six balls, unless its innings ends earlier because two wickets have been lost. The team that scores more runs in the Super Over wins the match, regardless of the number of wickets it loses during its innings.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has specific rules covering how a Super Over is conducted, including which team bats first, the number of wickets permitted, player eligibility, Player Reviews and the procedure to follow when a Super Over also ends in a tie. Since playing conditions can vary between competitions, the regulations applicable to the particular match determine whether a Super Over is used and how it is conducted.
What is a Super Over in Cricket?
A Super Over is a tie-breaker used in limited-overs cricket when the applicable playing conditions require a winner after the main match ends with both teams on the same score. Each team is given one over to score as many runs as possible, with the team recording the higher total winning the match.
Under the ICC Super Over procedure, each team faces a maximum of six balls, although its innings ends earlier if it loses two wickets. The Super Over is played separately from the main innings and is used to determine the result of a tied match when the relevant competition regulations require a winner.
How Does a Super Over Work?
Under the ICC Playing Conditions, each team receives one over in the Super Over. The over contains six balls, subject to the provision that the batting innings ends as soon as the team loses its second wicket. The team that scores more runs in its Super Over innings wins the match, irrespective of the number of wickets it has lost.
For example, if one team scores 14 runs in its Super Over and the other team scores 12, the team with 14 runs wins. The number of wickets lost does not determine the winner when the scores are different.
How Many Balls are in a Super Over?
Each team faces one over of six balls in a Super Over, although an innings can finish before all six balls are delivered. This happens when the batting team loses its second wicket, at which point its Super Over innings ends immediately.
The six-ball limit therefore applies to each team’s innings rather than guaranteeing that every team will face all six balls. The ICC Playing Conditions specify the two-wicket provision as part of the Super Over procedure.
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How Many Wickets are Allowed in a Super Over?
A team’s Super Over innings ends when it loses two wickets. This means that a batting team cannot continue its innings after the second wicket falls, even if fewer than six balls have been delivered.
For example, if the second wicket falls after four balls, the team’s Super Over innings ends at that point. The remaining balls are not available to the batting side because the two-wicket limit has already been reached.
Which Team Bats First in a Super Over?
Under the ICC Super Over procedure, the team that batted second in the main match bats first in the Super Over. The other team then has its Super Over innings after the first team has completed its innings or lost two wickets.
This batting order is part of the official procedure used to determine the sequence of the two Super Over innings.
Who Can Participate in a Super Over?
The ICC Playing Conditions specify which players are eligible to participate in a Super Over. The nominated players from the match can participate, along with applicable replacements permitted under the playing conditions, such as a concussion replacement where the relevant provisions apply.
The Super Over therefore follows the player eligibility provisions established for the match rather than allowing teams to introduce players who were not eligible under the applicable playing conditions.
How are Runs Scored in a Super Over?
Runs scored during a Super Over are recorded according to the applicable Laws of Cricket and playing conditions, subject to the specific provisions governing the Super Over. The batting team can continue scoring until it completes six balls or loses two wickets.
At the end of the two Super Over innings, the team with the higher number of runs wins. If both teams record the same number of runs, the match proceeds to the subsequent Super Over procedure specified in the playing conditions.
What Happens If the Super Over is Tied?
If both teams score the same number of runs in a Super Over, another Super Over is played where the applicable playing conditions require a winner. The process continues through subsequent Super Overs until a winner is determined, subject to the provisions covering exceptional circumstances.
The ICC procedure does not use the previous boundary-countback method as the current method for deciding a tied Super Over. Instead, where the relevant conditions require a result, further Super Overs are used to determine the winner.
Rules for Subsequent Super Overs
The ICC Playing Conditions also specify procedures for subsequent Super Overs. If the first Super Over ends with both teams on the same score, another Super Over is played, with the relevant rules determining the batting order, player eligibility and bowling restrictions.
The team that batted second in the previous Super Over bats first in the subsequent Super Over. There are also restrictions concerning players who participated in the previous Super Over. A batter who was dismissed in a previous Super Over cannot bat in the subsequent Super Over, while a bowler who bowled the previous Super Over cannot bowl the next one.
The bowling end also changes for a subsequent Super Over according to the ICC procedure.
How Long After the Match Does the Super Over Start?
Under the ICC Super Over procedure, the Super Over normally starts five minutes after the conclusion of the match, subject to the applicable playing conditions and the Match Referee’s determination.
The procedure also contains provisions covering the pitch and arrangements for the Super Over. If the Super Over or subsequent Super Overs are affected by delays or interruptions, the relevant playing conditions determine how the situation is handled.
Player Reviews in a Super Over
The ICC Super Over procedure provides each team with one unsuccessful Player Review per Super Over innings. This review allowance applies separately from the unsuccessful Player Reviews used during the main match. The review provisions therefore continue to apply during a Super Over, with each team receiving the specified review entitlement for its Super Over innings.
Is a Super Over Used in Every Tied Cricket Match?
A Super Over is not automatically used for every tied cricket match. Its use depends on the playing conditions applicable to the competition. Where those conditions require a winner and provide for a Super Over, the tie is resolved using the prescribed Super Over procedure.
For example, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 playing conditions provide for a Super Over to decide a tied match, with subsequent Super Overs used if the first Super Over also ends in a tie. This is why the playing conditions for the specific tournament or series should be checked when determining how a tied match is resolved.
Super Over Rules at a Glance
| Rule | Official ICC provision |
| Balls per team | One over of six balls |
| Early end | Second wicket ends the innings |
| Winner | Team scoring more runs |
| Wickets | Two wickets end an innings |
| First batting team | Team that batted second in the main match |
| Eligible players | Nominated players, including applicable concussion replacements |
| Player Reviews | One unsuccessful review per team per Super Over innings |
| Tied Super Over | Subsequent Super Overs are played |
| Number of Super Overs | Unlimited where necessary, except in specified exceptional circumstances |
Conclusion
The Cricket Super Over rules provide a formal method for deciding the winner of a tied limited-overs match when the relevant playing conditions require a result. Each team faces one over of six balls, with the innings ending earlier if two wickets are lost. The team scoring more runs wins.
Under the current ICC procedure, a Super Over that also ends in a tie is followed by another Super Over, and further Super Overs can be played until a winner is determined, subject to the applicable playing conditions and exceptional circumstances.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A Super Over is a tie-breaker used to determine the winner of a limited-overs match when the applicable playing conditions require a result. Each team faces one over.
Each team can face a maximum of six balls in a Super Over. The innings ends earlier if the team loses two wickets.
A team’s Super Over innings ends when it loses two wickets, even if six balls have not been completed.
The team that batted second in the main match bats first in the Super Over under the ICC Super Over procedure.
If the Super Over is tied, subsequent Super Overs are played until a winner is determined, subject to the applicable playing conditions.
No. Under the ICC procedure, a bowler who bowled the previous Super Over cannot bowl the following Super Over.
