How T20 Cricket Works: Rules, Format and Scoring Explained
A clear beginner’s guide to Twenty20 cricket: overs, innings, powerplay, bowling limits, tie-breakers and what makes the shortest format so popular.
Twenty20 cricket, usually shortened to T20, is the fastest format of the game. Each side bats once for a maximum of 20 overs, and a complete match is normally finished in around three hours. The format was introduced in English domestic cricket in 2003 and quickly spread, with the first men’s T20 World Cup played in 2007. Today it underpins franchise leagues around the world as well as international fixtures.
The basic structure
Two teams of eleven players contest the match. The captains toss a coin, and the winner chooses whether to bat or bowl first. The team batting first sets a target; the second side then tries to pass it within its own 20 overs. An over consists of six legal deliveries bowled by one bowler, so a full innings is 120 legal balls.
An innings ends when 20 overs have been bowled, when ten batters are out (a team is said to be all out), or, in the second innings, when the target is reached. Because only one innings is played per side, every ball carries more weight than it would in longer formats.
How runs are scored
- Running between the wickets: batters score one run each time they both reach the opposite crease.
- Four: the ball reaches the boundary after touching the ground, and four runs are awarded.
- Six: the ball clears the boundary on the full, and six runs are awarded.
- Extras: wides, no-balls, byes and leg byes add to the total without the ball necessarily being hit.
Wides and no-balls also add an extra delivery to the over, so an over can contain more than six balls in total even though only six are legal.
Bowling limits
No bowler may deliver more than a fifth of the innings. In a standard 20-over match that means a maximum of four overs per bowler, so a side needs at least five bowlers. This rule prevents captains from relying on only two or three front-line bowlers and keeps the contest balanced.
Powerplay and fielding restrictions
The first six overs of each innings form the powerplay. During this period only two fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard fielding circle, which makes boundaries easier to hit. After the powerplay, up to five fielders may stand outside the circle. In every over, a limited number of fielders may be positioned behind square on the leg side. Teams therefore plan carefully who bowls when, often saving their best bowlers for the later overs. Our separate guide to powerplay rules goes into more detail.
No-balls and free hits
If a bowler oversteps the popping crease, the delivery is a no-ball, and the next ball is a free hit. On a free hit the batter cannot be dismissed in most ways, although a run-out remains possible. A bowler delivering a high full toss above waist height may also be called for a no-ball. These rules favour batters and add to the sense of risk for bowlers.
Ties and Super Overs
If both teams finish on the same total, the match is tied. In many tournaments, including ICC events, a tie is settled by a Super Over: each side nominates three batters and one bowler, and bats for a single over. The side scoring more runs wins. Competition regulations govern what happens if the Super Over is itself tied, so it is best to check the rules of the specific tournament.
Rain and reduced matches
When weather interrupts play, the match may be shortened. A minimum number of overs must normally be bowled to each side for a result, and the target for the second innings may be recalculated using the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, covered in its own guide on this site.
Strategy in a short format
Because wickets matter less than runs per ball, teams often bat deeper and attack from the first over. Typical tactical themes include:
- Using the powerplay to take advantage of fielding restrictions.
- Targeting specific bowlers in the middle overs.
- Bowling variations such as slower balls and yorkers at the death, the final overs of the innings.
- Choosing to chase, since knowing the target often helps the second-batting side to pace its innings.
Understanding these elements makes it easier to follow a T20 match as it unfolds and to appreciate why a single over can change the outcome. If you are new to the sport, reading our guide to the scorecard is a good next step.
Why T20 has grown so quickly
The short duration suits television schedules and stadium crowds, and the format rewards innovation, with batters inventing new strokes and bowlers developing new deliveries. Franchise leagues in many countries have turned it into a year-round attraction. Even so, the underlying skills are the same ones that underpin Test and one-day cricket, which is why many players move between formats.
Frequently asked questions
How many overs are there in a T20 match?
Each team faces a maximum of 20 overs, which is 120 legal deliveries, unless the match is shortened by weather or other interruptions.
How many overs can one bowler bowl in T20 cricket?
A bowler can bowl a maximum of four overs in a standard 20-over innings, which is one fifth of the total.
What happens if a T20 match is tied?
In many competitions a tie is decided by a Super Over, where each side bats for one over with three batters and one bowler. The exact tie-break rules depend on the tournament.