Longest Overs Bowled In Cricket History: Cricket, a sport of strategy and accuracy, now and then experiences moments of pure chaos, most spectacularly through overs that go on for much longer than the prescribed six deliveries. The longest overs bowled in cricket’s history are records of pressure, loss of rhythm, or a calculated gamble, in exceptional instances.
Longest Overs Bowled In Cricket: All Formats
1. Bert Vance’s 22-Ball Over – The Longest Over in Cricket History (Domestic)
Match: Wellington vs Canterbury, Shell Trophy Final, 1989–90
Over Length: 22 balls
Runs Conceded: 77
Extras: 17 no-balls
Bert Vance of New Zealand set the record for the most expensive over bowled in cricket history, a fantasy 22-ball stint for 77 runs. This over, played in a domestic final, was a masterstroke of strategy and not just awful bowling.
With a draw imminent, Wellington deliberately gave away runs to entice Canterbury into an ambitious pursuit. Despite the mayhem, the strategy almost paid off, with Canterbury falling short by only one run.
Why It Stands Out:
Only 5 legal deliveries were bowled.
2. John Hastings 18 ball over (WCL 2025) – Hastings was not able to finish the over, which consisted of 6 balls six broad and a no-ball, having bowled 12 wides, which included 18 balls and 19 runs, was one of the longest and most unconventional overs in the history of professional cricket, not one we would very much like to imitate.
John Hastings Over
One of the longest overs in cricket history was bowled by John Hastings. He took 17 balls while Pakistan Champions were chasing the target, and the over still wasn’t complete#WCL2025 | #CricketTwitter
— Usman (@jamilmusman_) July 29, 2025
Beginning: Five successive wides on the offside.
Followed by: Two legal balls – a single and a boundary.
Then: A no-ball which was also a wide down leg.
Free Hit: Another wide, followed by a leg bye.
3. Mohammad Sami’s 17-Ball Over – ODI Record Holder
Match: Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Asia Cup 2004
Over Length: 17 balls
Runs Conceded: 22
Extras: 7 wides, 4 no-balls
Mohammad Sami shares the dubious record of bowling the longest ODI over. Interestingly, it followed a maiden over. The 17-ball affair demonstrated a catastrophic breakdown in rhythm and command, a stark reminder of how fragile a bowler’s form can be at the highest levels. Extras ended up being Bangladesh’s second-highest scorer of the match.
4. Curtly Ambrose’s 15-Ball Over – Longest in Test Cricket
Match: West Indies vs Australia, Perth, 1997
Over Length: 15 balls
Reason: Due to multiple no-balls
Reputed for laser precision and frightening speed, Curtly Ambrose’s 15-ball over is one of the most shocking moments in Test cricket. It occurred during a high-pressure series against Australia and was a rare setback in an otherwise outstanding career.
Longest Overs Bowled In Cricket: One-Day Internationals (ODIs)
Scott Boswell – 14-Ball Over (2001 C&G Trophy Final): Had 6 wides within the first 8 balls.
Daryl Tuffey – 14-Ball Over against Australia (2005): Match-opening over, including 4 wides and 4 no-balls.
Hasibul Hossain and Tinashe Panyangara – 13-Ball Overs: Though not very well known, both bowlers bowled 13-ball overs in their international careers for Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, respectively.
Mohammed Shami – 11-Ball Over (Champions Trophy 2025): Bowled 5 wides during the game against Pakistan. Joins a sad list of Indian bowlers who have had long overs in ODIs.
Longest Overs Bowled In Cricket- T20 and T20I Matches
Kouakou Wilfried – 14-Ball Over (T20I, 2024)
Match: Ivory Coast vs Saint Helena, T20 WC Africa Sub Qualifier
Allowed 19 runs, 8 of them wides.
One of the longest overs in official T20I history.
Led Saint Helena in a pursuit of a low score in only two overs.
John Hastings -18-Ball Over (World Championship of Legends, 2025): Sent down 12 wides and 1 no-ball. Lost 19 runs and bowled only 5 legitimate balls. It occurred in an unofficial T20 match, thus not in the ICC books.
