What is Maiden Over? Maiden Over Explained in 2 minutes
Jesse M. Cox Last Verified
26/06/2026
A maiden over is a term used in cricket when a delivery of six balls in a row by a bowler (classed as an over) passes by with the opposing batsmen failing to score a run.
For the fielding team and the bowler in particular, a maiden over is sought after but is a fairly common occurrence in Test cricket.
However, in the shorter formats of the game such as One Day Internationals and Twenty20 matches, bowing a maiden over is a rare feat and damaging to the batting team.
However, to go one better would be for the bowler to bowl a wicket maiden, which is an over in which no runs are scored, and a wicket is taken.
How is Maiden Over used in Sports Betting?
A majority of bookmakers will offer the chance to bet on maiden overs, especially in international cricket, the more high-profile county cricket games and Twenty20 tournaments such as the Big Bash and the IPL.
Markets are often run on whether the first over of an innings will be a maiden with some sub markets available for over/under bets on the number of maidens in an innings or match.
However, it is important to note that when betting on maiden overs, any byes and leg byes which are scored in the over are not counted against the bowler in a maiden over.
Did you know…
Indian bowler Bapu Nadkarni remarkably recorded figures of 29 overs, no wickets and just three runs with a whopping 26 maiden overs during a test match against England in 1963-64.
He bowled 21 consecutive maiden overs in the process during a 114-minute bowling spell which to this date remains the most consecutive maidens ever recorded in the professional game.
