Cricket has seen many unusual moments, but long overs caused by wides and no-balls stand out as some of the strangest. These overs often happen when a bowler loses control under pressure, leading to extra deliveries and unexpected records. The longest over ever bowled belongs to Bert Vance, who delivered 22 balls in a single over during the 1990 Shell Trophy Final.
After him come bowlers such as John Hastings (18-ball over), Mohammad Sami (17-ball over), and others, including Curtly Ambrose, Daryl Tuffey, Scott Boswell, Hasibul Hossain, and Tinashe Panyangara. Each of these overs has become an unwanted memorable moment for the bowlers. Get more information about them in the following section.
Top 9 Longest Overs In Cricket History
Here is the list of the top 8 longest overs in cricket history.
| Rank | Bowler | Balls | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bert Vance (NZ) | 22 | 1990, Shell Trophy Final |
| 2 | John Hastings (Aus) | 18 | 2025, World Championship of Legends |
| 3 | Mohammad Sami (Pak) | 17 | 2001, ODI vs NZ |
| 4 | Curtly Ambrose (WI) | 15 | 1997, Test vs Aus (WACA) |
| 5 | Daryl Tuffey (NZ) | 14 | 2005, ODI vs Aus |
| 6 | Scott Boswell (Eng) | 14 | 2001, C&G Trophy Final |
| 7 | Hasibul Hossain (Ban) | 13 | 2000, Champions Trophy |
| 8 | Tinashe Panyangara (Zim) | 13 | 2004, Champions Trophy |
| 9 | Arshdeep Singh (Ind) | 13 | 2025, 2nd T20I of the South Africa tour of India |
1. Bert Vance: 22-ball Over
Bert Vance of New Zealand set the record for the longest over in first-class cricket history by bowling 22 deliveries in an over during the 1990 Shell Trophy Final between Wellington and Canterbury in Christchurch. This happened on the final day when Wellington, needing a win to secure the title, gave away runs on purpose to push Canterbury into a chase and avoid a draw.
Vance threw 17 no-balls out of the 22 balls, with only five legal deliveries, including two dots. Lee Germon made full use of the plan, hitting 70 runs with eight sixes and six fours off no-balls, while Chris Ford added seven more. Many spectators were amazed that any bowler could bowl so over. This unusual over remains one of cricket’s most bizarre moments.
2. John Hastings: 18-ball Over
John Hastings of Australia bowled a highly unusual 18-ball over during the 2025 World Championship of Legends match against Pakistan Champions, including 12 wides and 1 no-ball.
The over began with five wides, followed by a single and four runs from legal balls, then more wides, a no-ball, and further wides, giving away 22 runs as extras while Pakistan needed only 20 more at 55/0. The match ended in a 10-wicket win for Pakistan, who chased 75 in 7.5 overs, and the long over wrapped up after the fifth legal delivery. This strange moment showed Hastings’ tough time on the field and helped Pakistan finish on top of their group for the semi-finals.
3. Mohammad Sami: 17-ball Over
Mohammad Sami of Pakistan bowled an unwanted 17-ball over during the 2004 Asia Cup match against Bangladesh, making it the longest over in ODIs. The over stretched out because of 4 no-balls and 7 wides, which added 22 runs in that over.
Sami had trouble with his line and length, sending down multiple extras that tested both the batsmen and the umpires. Even after this long, Pakistan won this match.
4. Curtly Ambrose: 15-ball Over
Curtly Ambrose of the West Indies bowled a 15-ball over during the 1997 Test against Australia at the WACA. This long over included 9 no-balls and gave away 13 runs in total.
The extra balls came from Ambrose overstepping several times. Even with the extended overs and added runs, Ambrose stayed one of the strongest and most effective bowlers in the match.
5. Daryl Tuffey: 14-ball Over
Daryl Tuffey bowled a 14-ball over in the 2005 ODI against Australia. This extended over included 4 wides and 4 no-balls, making it one of the longest and costliest overs in ODI cricket. Tuffey gave away 16 runs in that single over.
He also became the 1st ever to bowl to concede 15 or more runs in an over. Because of this difficult start, he was taken out of the New Zealand attack during the match. Australia went on to win by 86 runs. This over is still remembered for the large number of extras and how it changed the flow of the game.
6. Scott Boswell: 14-ball Over
Scott Boswell bowled a 14-ball over in the 2001 C&G Trophy Final at Lord’s, playing for Leicestershire against Somerset.
This second over included 8 wides, which stretched it out and made it one of the most difficult overs in List A cricket. Boswell struggled with the yips, losing control under pressure.
7. Naveen-ul-Haq: 13-ball Over
Afghanistan’s bowler, Naveen-ul-Haq, bowled a 13-ball over against Zimbabwe in the first match of the three-match T20I series in December 2024. Naveen came to bowl the 15th over of the game and gave away 12 runs from his first two legitimate deliveries. It included five wides and one no-ball.
Naveen dismissed Sikandar Raza on the third delivery of the over. He bowled another wide delivery before concluding the over. He gave away 19 runs in the over. Zimbabwe chased down the target of 145 runs on the last delivery of the innings and won the match by four wickets.
8. Tinashe Panyangara: 13-ball Over
Tinashe Panyangara bowled a well-known 13-ball over during the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy match against England at Edgbaston. The over ran long mainly because of 7 wides. Even after this tough start, Panyangara fought back and took the wicket of Andrew Flintoff later in the match.
His final figures were 10 overs, 86 runs, and 1 wicket, the most runs given by a Zimbabwe bowler in a Champions Trophy game at that time. England scored 299/7 and won by 152 runs. Panyangara, known as one of Zimbabwe’s fastest bowlers, faced heavy pressure but showed resilience after the early struggles. This 13-ball over remains one of the lengthiest and most noted in the tournament’s history.
9. Arshdeep Singh: 13-ball Over
India’s best T20I bowlers, Arshdeep Singh, bowled a 13-ball over during the 2nd T20I against South Africa in December 2025, at Mullanpur Stadium in New Chandigarh. Arshdeep is back for the 11th over of South Africa’s innings while chasing wickets and bowled his worst over of his cricketing career.
Arshdeep struggled with line and length. He bowled the first ball in the slot, which went for six, and later attempted wide yorkers outside off, but sprayed 6 off-side wides and one more down leg. This concluded the over to 13 deliveries, conceding 18 runs and equalled the T20I record for most balls in an over by a full-member bowler, shared with Afghanistan’s Naveen-ul-Haq.
Related Reads:
Conclusion: Bert Vance Bowled The Longest 22-Ball Over In Cricket History
Bert Vance holds the unwanted record for the longest over (22) in cricket history. The bowlers after him, Hastings, Sami, Ambrose, Tuffey, Boswell, Naveen, and Panyangara, also had tough overs that went far beyond six balls. These moments show how even the best players can struggle under pressure, and how one over can become a big part of cricket history. We hope no other bowler ever comes close to this record.
Leave a Comment