CRICKET4 min readApril 10, 2026
What is a Super Over in Cricket? The T20 Tiebreaker Explained
By The Score Central Editorial Team
A Super Over is a one-over tiebreaker used in T20 cricket when both teams finish on equal scores after their 20 overs. Each team sends in 2 batters and nominates 1 bowler. The team that scores more runs from their Super Over wins the match.
How a Super Over Works
The team that fielded second in the main match bats first in the Super Over. This gives them the advantage of knowing the target. The batting team has 2 wickets available: if the bowling side dismisses both batters before the 6 balls are complete, the batting innings ends immediately.
Fielding restrictions are in place: only 2 fielders are permitted outside the 30-yard circle, identical to a powerplay over. This maximises the batting side's scoring opportunity. The same batter who was not out at the end of the main innings does not automatically bat; the team selects their preferred 2 batters for the Super Over.
- Team fielding second in the main match bats first in the Super Over
- 2 wickets available for the batting team
- Innings ends if both wickets fall before the 6 balls are bowled
- Powerplay fielding restrictions apply throughout
If the Super Over Is Also Tied
Since 2019, the ICC rules state that if the Super Over finishes level, another Super Over is played immediately. New batters and bowlers can be nominated for each subsequent Super Over. The match continues until one team scores more runs.
This replaced the boundary count method that had been in use. There is no limit to the number of Super Overs that can be played theoretically, though in practice matches have rarely required more than two.
- Tied Super Over: another Super Over is played immediately
- New batters and bowlers can be selected for each Super Over
- Boundary count tiebreaker was abolished in 2019
- No theoretical limit on the number of Super Overs
The 2019 World Cup Final Controversy
The rule change was driven by the 2019 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup final between England and New Zealand at Lord's. Both teams finished on 241 runs after 50 overs. The Super Over also ended level, with both sides scoring 15 runs from their over.
Under the rules at the time, England were declared winners because they had hit more boundaries (fours and sixes) across the full 100 overs and the Super Over combined. New Zealand had played equally well by almost every other measure. The outcome was widely criticised as an unfair way to decide a World Cup. The ICC abolished boundary count as a tiebreaker within months.
- 2019 World Cup final: England 241, New Zealand 241 after 50 overs
- Super Over also tied: both scored 15 runs
- England won on boundary count (26 boundaries vs 17)
- ICC abolished boundary count rule within months of the final
Where Super Overs Are Used
Super Overs are the standard tiebreaker in T20 International matches and all major T20 competitions including the IPL, the Big Bash League, the SA20, and the Hundred. They are not used in ODI or Test cricket.
In the IPL, Super Overs have produced some of the most dramatic moments in the competition's history. The high stakes, full stadium, and single-over format condenses all the pressure into fewer than 12 balls per team.
Has a Super Over ever been needed at an IPL final?
No IPL final has yet been decided by a Super Over, though several league-stage matches have required one. The format's knockout rounds have historically produced close finishes but always a winner within 20 overs. Given that scores finish level in roughly 2% of T20 matches, an IPL final Super Over remains statistically possible.
- Used in: T20Is, IPL, Big Bash, SA20, The Hundred, and most major T20 formats
- Not used in ODIs or Test matches
- Approximately 2% of T20 matches finish tied and require a Super Over
- No IPL final has yet been decided by a Super Over
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