In cricket, what does a "maiden over" mean?
VerifiedAnswer: An over in which the bowler concedes no runs.
Explanation:
A maiden over is one of cricket's most celebrated bowling achievements. It occurs when a bowler delivers all six balls of an over without allowing the batting team to score even a single run. This means every delivery results in either a dot ball, where the batsman doesn't make contact or chooses not to run, or the ball is hit but doesn't result in any runs being added to the team's total.
To achieve a maiden over, the bowler must maintain exceptional accuracy and consistency. Each of the six deliveries must either beat the batsman completely, force them to play defensively, or result in a shot that doesn't cross the boundary or allow the batsmen to complete a run between the wickets. Even if a batsman hits the ball, as long as no runs are scored, the over can still qualify as a maiden.
Maiden overs are particularly valuable in cricket because they build pressure on the batting team. When batsmen cannot score runs, they often become frustrated and may attempt risky shots to break free from the bowler's control. This psychological pressure frequently leads to wickets, making maiden overs a strategic weapon for the bowling team.
In Test cricket, maiden overs are especially common and valuable since teams have unlimited overs to build pressure. Fast bowlers and spinners alike use maiden overs to control the game's tempo and create opportunities for breakthroughs. In limited-overs cricket like ODIs and T20s, maiden overs are rarer but even more precious because they prevent the batting team from scoring during crucial phases when every run counts.
