What is Runs Off First Delivery? Runs Off First Delivery Explained in 2 minutes
Mike Goodpaster Last Verified
26/06/2026
What is Runs Off First Delivery?
The amount of runs scored off the first delivery is exactly what it sounds like; the result, in the number of runs scored, of the first ball bowled in a game of cricket. It is just one of the many bets which can be placed on a game of cricket, and like all such bets it relies on a combination of knowledge of the teams and individual players involved, of the form of cricket being played – i.e. Test cricket, T20 or One Day International – and of the type of wicket on which the match is taking place.
How is Runs Off First Delivery Used in Sports Betting?
One of the things which make cricket such an appealing sport in betting terms is the sheer number of aspects upon which it is possible to place bets. These range from choosing an outright winner of a match, to placing a bet on the top batsman, top bowler or number of no balls delivered. Betting on the number of runs scored off the first delivery is a bet placed before the game actually commences as opposed to betting on the runs off the next delivery, which is a form of in play betting. There are two ways of placing this bet. One is to choose a specific number of runs, such as one, two or four, and place a bet accordingly. The other is to bet on the odds offered if the number of runs scored off the first delivery is over or under a certain amount. Although the rules may vary slightly from bookmaker to bookmaker, it is always the case that if no ball is bowled in the match (due to bad weather for example), then the bet will be considered void.
