Cricket Betting Terminology

Cricket is a perfect sport to bet on. It offers a variety of short term bets while at the same time giving you the opportunity to partake in bets which can last for up to 5 days.

That is why we have decided to compile a list of the most common betting terms when it comes to cricket as well as betting in general.

This list should be easily understandable for those familiar with the sport as well as for those who know only the basics. As with all glossaries the list is alphabetically ordered.

1st Over Total Runs – To predict whether the runs in the 1st over will be Under or Over the previously specified limit by the betting provider. For example, if the limit is 3.5 and there are 2 runs scored in the first over the winning bet is Under. If there are 4 runs scored the winning bet is Over. (See also Over/Under)

1st Wicket Method – In which way will the 1st Wicket be taken. The 6 options are Caught, Bowled, LBW (Leg Before Wicket), Run Out, Stumped and Others. The most common of these is Caught followed by Bowled and LBW.

A Fifty or a Hundred to Be Scored in the 1st Innings – Two markets here. Both of them concerning the number of runs in the 1st Innings. These bets are usually offered only for the longest version of cricket matches – Test matches. The two possible bets are Yes and No.

A Fifty or a Hundred to Be Scored in the Match – Again two markets, however, unlike the previous two, these take the whole match into consideration. The odds that a player will score 50 or a 100 runs in a match are the highest for Twenty20 matches, reasonably high for One Day matches and expectedly low for Test matches.

Batsman Matches – A market in which imaginary duels are formed by the betting provider and the batsman with the highest total number of runs is the winner of the duel.

Dead Heat – A situation in which there are two or more winners in a betting event. For example, if there are two batsmen with the same number of runs, dead heat rules apply and the bet is worth half the original stake.

Draw no Bet – A market only given by the betting provider when there is the possibility of a draw (Test Series). There are only two possible outcomes in this market (1 or 2). If the game ends in a draw single bets on the match will be refunded whereas all up bets (accumulator tickets) remain valid at the odds of 1.00.

Futures – Wagers placed on an event occurring in the future. For example, betting on the outcomes and winners of Twenty20 Big Bash 2017-2018.

Hedging – Placing wagers on the opposite side. Usually done to safeguard the bet and to cut losses in case the original bet is lost.

Highest Opening Partnership – The team which fields the opening partnership with the highest total of runs is the winner in this market. The favourite to win the match always has lower odds for its opening partnership.

Lock – When a bet is expected to be an easy winner.

Man of the Match – The individual who produces the best performance in a cricket match is voted as the Man of the Match.

Most Match Sixes – Punters choose which of the two teams will hit the most sixes (a shot which passes over or touches the boundary without having bounced or rolled).

Most Run-Outs – The team which creates the most run-outs whilst fielding is the winner in this market. If both teams create the same number of run-outs whilst fielding the winning bet is X.

Over/Under – A bet on whether the combined total of the points/goals/runs scored by the two teams will be more or less than a specified number by the betting provider.

Point Spread – A handicap, also known as head start, with which a stronger team is expected to defeat a weaker one. Given only for betting purposes.

Series Score – Betting on the correct score of Test Series matches. For example after the 2nd game of the series you can bet on six possible outcomes: 1-0, 2-0, 0-1, 0-2, 0-0, 1-1.

Team to Make Highest 1st 6 Overs – The team which scores the highest total of runs over the course of the first 6 overs wins the bet.

To Win the Match – Which of the two teams will win the match (home – 1 or away – 2). In Test matches you can also bet on the draw (X).

To Win the Toss – Betting on which team wins the coin toss before the match.

To Win Outright – When you are betting on the winner of a competition or series containing more than one match. Examples would include betting on the winner of Test Series, County Championships, the Twenty20 Big Bash, the ICC Champions Trophy, the Ashes Series, the Pakistan Super League, the World Cup etc.

Top Match Batsman – The winning bet in this market is the batsman with the most runs in a match. Both teams’ batsmen are taken into consideration.

Top Team Batsman – The winning bet in this market is the batsman with the most runs in a match, but only one of the teams is taken into consideration.

Top Team Bowler – The bowler with the most wickets taken for his team is the top team bowler. If there are two or more bowlers with the same number of wickets taken then the winner is the one with the least number of runs conceded.

Underdog – The team which is expected to lose the match. For example, Ireland was a huge underdog when they managed to win in the ICC World Cup match against the West Indies two years ago.

Value – Getting the best possible odds on a bet.

Those are the ones we see used the most and people wonder about some, as well as some of the most common cricket bets swiftly explained. If you come across a term you don’t understand, feel free to contact us and we might help you explain it and add it to this section.