Maiden Over in Cricket

An over in which no runs are scored off the bat — all dot balls.

What is a Maiden Over?

A maiden over means the bowler has bowled 6 consecutive deliveries without conceding a run off the bat (extras like wides and no-balls break the maiden). In Test cricket, a maiden over represents complete control — the batter has been unable to score for an entire over. In T20, a maiden over is remarkable and genuinely match-defining. A bowler who bowls multiple maidens in a spell is said to be 'strangling' the batting side.

In play

T20 middle overs. Batter is trying to score — needs every run. Off-spinner bowls: blocked, blocked, blocked, driven to fielder, blocked, takes single off last ball. Not a maiden — but dot-dot-dot-dot-dot is near as good.

More bowling terms

• Hat-trickA bowler taking three wickets with three consecutive deliveries — one of cricket's rarest feats.
• Economy RateThe average number of runs a bowler concedes per over — the core measure of bowling containment.
• Contrast SwingA form of swing that comes from surface roughness on the ball, not the seam's angle.
• MaidenAn over with no runs off the bat, wides, or no-balls. Also used for a player's first-ever milestone (maiden century, maiden call-up).
• DoosraAn off-spinner's delivery that turns the opposite way — away from a right-handed batter.
• GooglyA leg-spinner's delivery that turns the opposite way — into a right-handed batter instead of away.