GUIDES · BETSLIP DOCTOR
How does cricket boundary scoring change for a misfield, an overthrow or a fielder touch?
Start by classifying what the fielder did. Under the MCC Laws, an attempted stop that sends the ball over the rope is not an overthrow; ordinary boundary scoring applies. An overthrow uses a separate calculation from the moment of the throw. Separately, a bat-hit ball is a six only if it first grounds beyond the boundary without having touched the ground inside the field; a ball first grounded inside and then over the boundary is a four. Boundary allowances are normally four or six, but the umpires and captains can set them differently before the toss.
For Cricket fans comparing boundary runs and scorecard outcomes · Updated
An attempted stop and an overthrow use different rules
Under Law 19.8.2.1, the MCC definition of an overthrow applies when, in the umpire's opinion, a fielder directs the ball toward the wickets in an attempt to run out a batter or prevent further scoring, and the ball later crosses the boundary.
A ball that crosses after a fielder attempts to stop it is not an overthrow under Law 19.8.2.2. Nor is a short pass to another fielder near the boundary an overthrow. For this Law, a wilful act is a deliberate fielder action not intended to prevent runs, effect a Run out or complete a catch.
For an ordinary boundary, compare the allowance with the running
The umpires and captains determine boundary allowances before the toss, guided by the ground's prevailing custom. Unless they set a different allowance, the MCC default is six for a Boundary 6 and four for a Boundary 4.
For a boundary outside the overthrow or wilful-act rule, Law 19.7.3 awards the greater of the boundary allowance or the completed runs plus the run in progress if the batters had already crossed when the boundary was scored. This is why a misfield can produce more than the stated boundary allowance.
For an overthrow, count from the instant of the throw
Law 19.8.1 adds any penalty runs awarded to either side, the boundary allowance, the runs completed at the instant of the throw, and the run in progress only if the batters had already crossed at that instant. The throw instant controls this calculation; crossing later, before the ball reaches the boundary, does not add that in-progress run.
A fielder touch does not by itself decide four versus six
Under Law 19.7.1, a Boundary 6 requires a bat-hit ball to be first grounded beyond the boundary without having touched the ground within the field. That condition can still be met if the ball previously touched a fielder. Under Law 19.7.2, a Boundary 4 is scored when the ball is grounded beyond after first being grounded inside, or when it was not struck by the bat.
This guide follows the MCC 2017 Code, 4th Edition (2026). Competition-specific Playing Conditions were not checked; verify them before applying the examples to a named match or format.
Four fictional boundary plays, with the assumed allowance stated
Assume the umpires and captains set a four-run boundary allowance and no penalty runs apply. First, a fielder tries to stop a ball and misfields it over the rope; because this follows an attempted stop, it is not an overthrow. The batters complete four runs and have crossed for a fifth before the boundary is scored, so ordinary Law 19.7.3 awards the greater of four and four plus the run in progress: five. Second, on another play, a fielder directs a throw toward the wickets in an attempt to run out a batter; one run is complete and the batters have crossed for the second when the throw is made, then the ball crosses the rope. Law 19.8.1 gives four for the boundary plus one completed run and the run in progress at the throw: six. Finally, on two bat-hit plays with a fielder touching the ball in the field, one ball first grounds beyond the rope without touching the ground inside and is a Boundary 6; the other first lands inside, rolls over the rope, and is a Boundary 4. These are fictional examples, not reports of real matches.
Related questions
Does every ground use exactly four runs for a four and six for a six?
Not necessarily. The umpires determine the boundary allowances with both captains before the toss. Four and six are the MCC defaults unless a different allowance is set.
For an overthrow, does the run in progress count if the batters cross before the ball reaches the boundary?
Only if they had already crossed at the instant of the throw or wilful act. Law 19.8.1 measures completed runs and crossing at that earlier moment.