Boundaries

Fours and Sixes

When the ball is hit with the bat and it touches or crosses the boundary rope (having bounced first) then four runs are awarded to the striking batsman.

Four runs are also awarded if:

  • The fielder stops the ball before it touches the rope but they themselves are touching or over the boundary rope while in contact with the ball; then four runs are awarded to the bastman.
  • If a fielder accidentally kicks the ball over the boundary while attempting to field it then the batsman is awarded four runs on top of any they have already run.

If the ball crosses the boundary after bouncing without hitting the bat (off pads) or, for example, due to a wide delivery, then four runs are awarded as byes or leg byes.

A ball crossing the boundary without bouncing is worth six runs.

A fielder taking a catch on the boundary must ensure his feet do not touch or cross the boundary as the catch is taken or six runs are awarded and the bastman is ruled ‘not-out’.

In club cricket umpires, are not always well placed to make decisions on boundaries involving outfielders and often rely on the honesty of a player on whether the ball has crossed the boundary or whether a catch or stop was made legitimately.

At Lilleshall we expect are players to abide by the spirt of cricket and always give the correct information to umpires.