Guide
Ball by Ball Betting Explained: The Fastest Cricket Market
Quick Summary
- Ball by ball markets ask what the next delivery will produce: runs, a boundary, a wicket or an extra.
- They settle in seconds, which makes them the fastest cricket bets there are.
- Settlement rules for extras, no-balls and overthrows vary, so read them first.
- Check whether Mostplay lists next-ball markets on a live match.
- 18+ only
- Official partner site
- Checked 7 Nov 2026
- Know your limit
Every cricket fan knows the moment just before the bowler lets go: the crowd hushes, the batter taps the crease, everyone guesses. Ball by ball betting turns that guess into a market. Will the next ball go for four? Will there be a wicket? A dot? It is cricket at its most granular, and it can be gripping. It is also the fastest form of cricket betting, with a new bet possible every thirty seconds or so. This article explains how ball by ball markets generally work and how to keep them in proportion.
What ball by ball markets look like
The short answer: they ask about the next fair delivery, or sometimes simply the next ball bowled. Typical options cover runs scored, boundaries and wickets.
| Outcome | What it covers | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Dot ball | No runs off the bat or extras | Check how leg byes are treated |
| 1, 2 or 3 runs | Runs scored from the delivery | Overthrows may count |
| Four | Boundary along the ground | Includes overthrows to the rope in some rules |
| Six | Boundary over the rope | Usually straightforward |
| Wicket | Batter dismissed from the delivery | Run-outs off a no-ball are a special case |
| Extra | Wide or no-ball | May void or settle depending on rules |
How settlement usually works
Rules vary between sportsbooks, and the fine details matter because outcomes settle in seconds. A common question is what happens with a wide or no-ball. Some sportsbooks void next-ball bets on a wide or no-ball and roll on to the next fair ball; others settle the extra as its own outcome.
Overthrows, leg byes and run-outs at the non-striker's end can also be handled differently. Read the settlement rules before your first bet, not after a confusing one.
Why it is the fastest market
A T20 innings has at least 120 fair deliveries. If you bet on even a third of them, that is forty bets in an innings. Each carries the sportsbook's margin, and each takes seconds to decide. That combination is why ball by ball markets need the firmest limits of any cricket bet.
There is also very little information to work with. Field placings, the bowler's plan and the batter's intent all play a part, but the next ball is close to a coin toss with many sides. Our fancy market article covers slightly slower in-play markets that look at phases instead of single balls.
Broadcast delay and fairness
Television and streams run a few seconds behind the action, and ball by ball markets close before each delivery. Sportsbooks use bet delays and suspensions to prevent anyone betting on a ball that has already been bowled. If your bet is rejected, it is usually because the market closed or the price changed.
This is normal protection rather than a fault. If you see repeated rejections, it is a sign the market is moving faster than you can follow, which is a good cue to step back. Our live cricket betting guide explains suspensions in more detail.
Keeping it under control
If you try ball by ball markets, set a strict separate budget and a fixed tiny stake. Decide a number of balls in advance, for example one over, and stop when it ends. Never bet on consecutive balls to win back the last one.
We could not confirm whether Mostplay offers next-ball markets. Check a live match in the cricket betting section of the brand's site or app. If they are there, read the settlement rules first. And if a session starts to feel frantic, our responsible gaming page has practical ways to pause.
In three steps
How to approach ball by ball betting in 3 steps
- 1Read the settlement rules
Check how wides, no-balls, overthrows and leg byes are treated before betting.
- 2Set a tiny fixed stake
Use a small separate budget and decide in advance how many balls you will bet on.
- 3Stop at the limit
When the over or budget ends, stop, even if the match is at its most exciting.