Long overs happen when bowlers lose control during matches. These overs go beyond the standard six legal deliveries due to wides and no-balls.
Each extra delivery adds to the overcount and creates unusual records.
Such overs occur across all formats but are most common when bowlers face pressure situations.
The extras change the match momentum and give batting teams free runs. These records show how bowling discipline affects cricket outcomes.
The longest over in cricket history contains 22 deliveries, while several others range from 13 to 18 balls.
These moments remain permanent entries in cricket record books.
Longest Over in Cricket History 2026
Top 9 Longest Overs In Cricket History
| Rank | Bowler | Balls in Over | Match Format | Year | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bert Vance (NZ) | 22 | First-Class | 1990 | Shell Trophy Final |
| 2 | John Hastings (Aus) | 18 | T20 | 2025 | World Championship of Legends |
| 3 | Mohammad Sami (Pak) | 17 | ODI | 2001 | ODI vs New Zealand |
| 4 | Curtly Ambrose (WI) | 15 | Test | 1997 | Test vs Australia (WACA) |
| 5 | Daryl Tuffey (NZ) | 14 | ODI | 2005 | ODI vs Australia |
| 6 | Scott Boswell (Eng) | 14 | List A | 2001 | C&G Trophy Final |
| 7 | Naveen-ul-Haq (Afg) | 13 | T20I | 2024 | T20I vs Zimbabwe |
| 8 | Tinashe Panyangara (Zim) | 13 | ODI | 2004 | Champions Trophy vs England |
| 9 | Arshdeep Singh (Ind) | 13 | T20I | 2025 | 2nd T20I vs South Africa |
All 9 Longest Overs In Cricket History
1. Bert Vance: 22-ball Over
Bert Vance bowled 22 deliveries in a single over during the 1990 Shell Trophy Final between Wellington and Canterbury. The over contained 17 no-balls and only five legal deliveries. This first-class match produced the all-time record for ball count in one over.
The extras came from deliberate bowling tactics on the final day. Wellington needed a result to win the trophy, so they bowled no-balls to force Canterbury into a chase. The batsmen scored 77 runs from the over, including boundaries off the illegal deliveries.
2. John Hastings: 18-ball Over
John Hastings delivered 18 balls in one over during the 2025 World Championship of Legends match against Pakistan. The over included 12 wides and one no-ball. This T20 format match saw Hastings struggle with line and length control throughout the over.
The 18-ball sequence gave away 22 runs as extras while Pakistan needed only 20 more runs. The match ended in the same over with Pakistan winning by 10 wickets. This represents the longest over in t20 cricket history on record.
3. Mohammad Sami: 17-ball Over
Mohammad Sami bowled 17 deliveries in a 2001 ODI against New Zealand. The over contained four no-balls and seven wides, which made it the longest over in ODI cricket history. The extras added 22 runs to New Zealand’s total in that single over.
Sami faced control issues with both line and length during this sequence. Despite the extension, Pakistan won the match. The 17-ball count remains the ODI format record for most deliveries in one over.
4. Curtly Ambrose: 15-ball Over
Curtly Ambrose sent down 15 balls in a Test match against Australia at WACA in 1997. The over included nine no-balls, which came from repeated front-foot violations. The extras contributed 13 runs to Australia’s score.
This Test format over showed how even top bowlers can struggle with no-ball discipline. Ambrose continued bowling effectively in the match despite the extended over. The 15-ball sequence stands as a significant Test cricket record.
5. Daryl Tuffey: 14-ball Over
Daryl Tuffey bowled 14 deliveries in a 2005 ODI against Australia. The over contained four wides and four no-balls. These extras cost New Zealand 16 runs in the single over.
Tuffey became the first bowler to concede 15 or more runs in an over with this many extras. Australia won the match by 86 runs. The 14-ball count matches other long overs in one-day format records.
6. Scott Boswell: 14-ball Over
Scott Boswell delivered 14 balls in the 2001 C&G Trophy Final at Lord’s. The over included eight wides, which stretched the delivery count significantly. This List A match saw Boswell lose control under pressure during his second over.
The wides came from accuracy issues rather than deliberate tactics. Boswell struggled with the yips, a condition affecting bowlers’ ability to release the ball smoothly. The 14-ball sequence remains one of the longest in domestic cricket finals.
7. Naveen-ul-Haq: 13-ball Over
Naveen-ul-Haq bowled 13 deliveries in a December 2024 T20I against Zimbabwe. The over contained five wides and one no-ball. This sequence represents the longest over in T20 international cricket by ball count among full-member nations.
Naveen came to bowl the 15th over and gave away 19 runs total. He dismissed Sikandar Raza during the over but struggled with wide deliveries outside off-stump. Zimbabwe chased down the target on the final ball and won by four wickets.
8. Tinashe Panyangara: 13-ball Over
Tinashe Panyangara sent down 13 balls in the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy match against England. The over included seven wides, showing the highest no ball in one over in international cricket combined with wides. The extras stretched the over significantly beyond six legal deliveries.
Panyangara gave away 86 runs in his 10-over spell, the most by a Zimbabwe bowler in Champions Trophy history at that time. England scored 299/7 and won by 152 runs. The 13-ball over remains a notable Champions Trophy record.
9. Arshdeep Singh: 13-ball Over
Arshdeep Singh delivered 13 balls in the 2025 2nd T20I against South Africa at Mullanpur Stadium. The over contained six off-side wides and one leg-side wide. Singh struggled with wide yorker execution outside off-stump during this sequence.
The 13-ball over conceded 18 runs and equalled the T20I record for most balls by a full-member bowler. This over also represents the longest over in IPL history context for Indian bowlers in international matches. The top 10 longest over in cricket history shows Singh’s delivery among recent entries.
FAQs
- What is the longest over ever bowled in cricket?
Bert Vance bowled 22 deliveries in the 1990 Shell Trophy Final, which is the all-time record. The over contained 17 no-balls and only five legal balls.
- Which format has the most long overs?
ODI cricket has recorded more long overs than other formats due to the balance between aggression and control. T20 cricket also sees extended overs from aggressive bowling tactics.
- How many wides can be bowled in one over?
There is no limit to wides in a single over. John Hastings bowled 12 wides in his 18-ball over, which represents the most wides in an over in international cricket on record.
- Are long overs common in T20 cricket?
Long overs are less common in T20 cricket compared to ODIs. The format’s fast pace usually prevents bowlers from losing complete control, though pressure can cause extended overs.
- Can an over have more no-balls than legal deliveries?
Yes, Bert Vance’s record over had 17 no-balls compared to five legal deliveries. This shows how deliberate or loss-of-control bowling can produce more extras than legitimate balls.
- What causes long overs in cricket?
Long overs result from wides and no-balls, which require re-bowling. Pressure situations, tactical bowling, front-foot violations, and line-and-length errors all contribute to extended overs.
- Do long overs affect match outcomes?
Long overs can change the match momentum by giving free runs and disrupting bowling plans. The extra deliveries often benefit batting teams and force captains to change their strategies.
- Which bowler has the most 13-ball overs?
Multiple bowlers share 13-ball over records, including Naveen-ul-Haq, Tinashe Panyangara, and Arshdeep Singh. Each bowled 13 deliveries in separate international matches.
- Has any IPL match seen a 15+ ball over?
IPL records show several long overs, but none reaching 15+ balls in official IPL matches. Most extended overs in IPL range between 10-12 deliveries with multiple wides or no-balls.
- Do Test matches have fewer long overs?
Test cricket generally sees fewer long overs because bowlers focus on accuracy over aggression. However, Curtly Ambrose’s 15-ball Test over shows that long sequences can happen in any format.
Conclusion:
The records above show how the longest over in cricket history spans multiple formats and decades.
First-class cricket holds the absolute record, while international cricket sees regular entries from T20I and ODI matches.
Key patterns from these records include:
- Most long overs contain more wides than no-balls
- Pressure situations increase the chance of extended overs
- T20 and ODI formats produce more long overs than Tests
- Recent years show continued entries in record books
Bowling discipline remains critical across all formats.
Control over line, length, and front-foot positioning prevents extended overs.
These records serve as permanent reminders that even top bowlers can lose accuracy under match pressure.
The 22-ball record stands alone as the most extreme case.
Other entries between 13-18 balls show how common control issues can be when bowlers face difficult situations or attempt aggressive tactics.
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