What Is a Maiden Over? Cricket Terms Explained

What is a maiden over — and do byes break it? This guide explains the maiden over and several other common cricket terms in plain English.

Cricket has a language all its own, and few terms puzzle newcomers more than the “maiden over.” This guide explains what a maiden over is, why it matters, and clears up several other common cricket terms you’ll hear at any ground.

What is a maiden over?

A maiden over is an over in which the bowler concedes no runs off the bat — six legal balls with zero runs scored by the batters. It’s a mark of tight, disciplined bowling and is recorded as “M” in the bowler’s figures.

Do extras break a maiden?

This is where people get caught out. Byes and leg-byes do not break a maiden, because they aren’t the bowler’s fault. But a wide or a no-ball does break it, because those are charged to the bowler. So an over of six dot balls with a couple of byes is still a maiden — but add one wide and it isn’t.

What is a wicket-maiden?

A wicket-maiden is a maiden over in which the bowler also takes a wicket — no runs conceded and a batter dismissed. It’s one of the best possible overs a bowler can have.

Other cricket terms explained

Over

Six legal deliveries bowled from one end. After an over, a different bowler bowls the next over from the opposite end.

Strike rate

For a batter, runs scored per 100 balls faced — a measure of how quickly they score. For a bowler, balls per wicket.

Economy rate

The average number of runs a bowler concedes per over. Lower is better.

Fall of wickets

The team score at the moment each wicket fell — useful for seeing where an innings was won or lost.

Partnership

The runs added together by two batters while they are both at the crease, until one is out.

Duck

When a batter is dismissed for zero runs. Out first ball is a “golden duck.”

Why knowing the terms helps

Understanding these terms makes watching, playing, and scoring cricket far more enjoyable — and if you’re the one keeping score, it’s essential. A modern scoring app tracks maidens, strike rates, partnerships, and fall of wickets automatically, so you can focus on the match rather than the maths.