In Total Match Runs betting, you predict whether the total runs scored by a team will be over or under a specific number set by the betting site. For example, if the over/under line is set at 300.5 runs, you have to decide whether the team will score more (over) or fewer (under) than 300.5 runs.
Over/under betting is very popular on cricket betting sites and can be applied to many different aspects of a cricket match.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about over/under betting on total match runs.
What is an Over/Under Bet?
In cricket betting, an over/under line is a bet on the total number of runs that will be scored in a match. The bookmaker will set a line, which is the total number of runs that they believe will be scored. You can then bet on whether the total number of runs will be over or under the line.
If you bet on Team India’s runs being over 350 runs, and the total number of runs scored is more than 350, you win your bet. If you bet on Team India’s runs being under 350 runs, and the total number of runs scored is less than 350, you win your bet.
Here is an example of how an over/under line might work in a real-world situation:
- India is playing Pakistan in a Test match.
- The bookmaker sets the line at 350 runs for Team India
- You bet on the number of runs scored by Team India under over 350 runs.
- The final score for Team India is 348 runs
- You win your bet because India scores less than350 runs
Placing ‘Over' Bets
You should consider placing an “over” bet when you believe the team will score more runs than the set line.
Let's take an example of an India vs. West Indies match in the ODI World Cup. At the 40-over mark, India has scored 275 runs with just 4 wickets lost. In this scenario, the chances of India scoring 350+ or more runs are high.
Therefore, you could confidently place an “over” bet. But keep in mind that the live odds set by bookmakers will be low at this point of time as the chances of winning for you are much higher.
Placing ‘Under' Bets
Conversely, you should consider placing an “under” bet when you predict that the team will score fewer runs than the set line.
Continuing with our example, if India has struggled in their innings and reached the 40-over mark with only 150 runs and 6 wickets lost, the chances of them reaching a total of 300 or more are lower.
In this case, you may want to place an “under” bet. But odds will be low as chances of you winning that bet are pretty high.
Let's consider a pre-match example to illustrate this further. Imagine a scenario where one of the best batsmen in the team, like Virat Kohli, is not playing due to injury. This absence is likely to have an impact on the team's overall batting performance. Consequently, you can reasonably expect the team's run total to be lower than what is typically anticipated.
Understand Odds for Total Match Runs
Odds represent the potential payout you can receive if your bet is successful. In India, odds are usually shown in the decimal format (i.e. 2.00), making calculating your potential returns very easy.
You simple multiply your stake by the odds to calculate your return. Do keep in mind that your initial stake is included in the return as well.
Let's consider an example of India playing against Pakistan in a Test Match and the bookmaker sets an over/under line for India's total runs at 349.50 as the first innings score.
The odds by the bookmaker are set as follows:
| Over 349.50 Runs | Under 349.50 Runs |
| 1.80 | 2.50 |
This means that if you place an ‘over' bet, you will receive 180 rupees for every 100 rupees you bet. In case you place an ‘under' bet, you receive 250 rupees for every 100 rupees you bet.
The odds in the example above mean that it is more likely for India to score over 349.50 runs, as the odds are lower.
Strategies for Placing Over/Under Bets
When it comes to placing over/under bets, there are several strategies that can be effective in helping you make best decisions.
Here are a few strategies to consider before placing an over/under bet:
- Study the venue and pitch conditions: Different grounds have different characteristics that can influence run-scoring. Some pitches are flat and favor high-scoring matches, while others may offer assistance to the bowlers.
- Review the match situation: Take into account the match situation, including the number of overs played, the number of wickets lost, and the required run rate.
- Weather conditions: If it is a hot day, more runs will be scored, If it is overcast, chances are bowlers will dominate and lesser runs will be scored.
