IPL 2015: What is a Super Over?

Bengaluru, April 22: The Indian Premier League 2015 (IPL 8) witnessed a Super Over for the first time last night (April 21) at Ahmedabad's Sardar Patel Stadium. Kings XI Punjab prevailed over Rajasthan Royals in a high-scoring game.

IPL Special; Match Highlights; Points Table;

Super Over is a one-over contest used to determine the winner in tied matches in Twenty20 tournaments. Recently, International Cricket Council (ICC) had added Super Over to also decide World Cup 2015 final in case it was tied. But it was not used as the title clash was won by Australia in the regular 50 overs.

Earlier, tied matches in T20s were decided via a bowl-out where 5 bowlers from each side would bowl to hit three stumps at one end. The team with most number of hits to the wickets were declared winner.

However, this method was replaced by Super Over, by ICC in 2008. The bowl-out was used in the inaugural World Twenty20 Championship in South Africa, which was won by India. During that tournament India and Pakistan had contested a bowl-out and the former won.

What is a Super Over and how is it played? Find out here

According to IPL's Playing Conditions (Appendix 7) the Super Over will be played as follows

7. Each team's over is played with the same fielding restrictions as apply for the 20th over in a normal IPL match.

8. The team batting second in the main match will bat first in the Super Over.

9. The fielding captain or his nominee shall select the ball with which he wishes to bowl his over in the Super Over from the box of spare balls provided by the umpires. Such box to include the balls used in the main match, but no new balls. The team fielding first in the Super Over shall have first choice of ball. The team fielding second may choose to use the same ball as chosen by the team bowling first. If the ball needs to be changed, then playing conditions as stated for the main match shall apply.

10. The loss of two wickets in the Super Over ends the team's Super Over innings.

11. The team scoring the most runs in the Super Over shall be declared the winner.

12. In the event of the teams having scored the same number of runs in the Super Over:

a) If the original match was a tie under the D/L method, clause d. below immediately applies.

b) Otherwise, the team whose batsmen hit the most number of boundaries (fours and sixes) combined from its two innings in the main match and the Super Over shall be the winner.

c) If the total number of boundaries hit by both teams is equal, the team whose batsmen score the most number of boundaries (fours and sixes) in its innings in the main match (ignoring the Super Over) will be the winner.

d. If still equal, a count-back from the final ball of the Super Over shall be conducted. The team with the higher scoring delivery shall be the winner. If a team loses two wickets during its Super Over, then any unbowled deliveries will be counted as dot balls. Note that for this purpose, the runs scored from a delivery is defined as the total team runs scored since the completion of the previous legitimate ball, i.e including any runs resulting from wides, no ball or penalty runs.

Example

Runs scored by

Team 1 Team 2

Ball 6 - 1 - 1

Ball 5 - 4 - 4

Ball 4 - 2 - 1

Ball 3 - 6 - 2

Ball 2 - 0 - 1

Ball 1 - 2 - 6

In this example both teams scored an equal number of runs from the 6th and 5th ball of their innings. However team 1 scored 2 runs from its 4th ball while team 2 scored a single so team 1 is the winner.

e. If still equal, the Super Over shall be declared a tie and the result of the match shall be determined according to clause 21.9 (1 point per team taking part in any match with no result and any match which is tied (where it was not possible to complete a Super Over at the end of play or where the Super Over itself is tied;) if the match is a regular season match or clause 21.10 (if conditions do not permit a Super Over within the time available to determine the winner or if the Super Over is tied, then the team which, at the end of the relevant regular Season, finished in the higher position in the League table (in accordance with paragraph 21.9 above) will be deemed the winner of the relevant play-off match) if the match is a play-off match.

Join our Cricket LIVE chat to discuss about IPL matches

OneIndia News