Longest Over in Cricket History? Mohammad Sami’s 17-Ball Over Explained
🔥 Mohammad Sami – Longest Over in Cricket History (17 Balls)
The longest over in international cricket history was bowled by Mohammad Sami, who delivered 17 balls in a single over during an ODI match.
👉 This is the longest over ever bowled in international cricket history — a rare and chaotic 17-ball spell.
👉 This happened against Bangladesh in the 2004 Asia Cup
📊 Key Details of the 17-Ball Over
- Total balls: 17
- Extras: 7 wides + 4 no-balls
- Runs conceded: 22
- Match: Pakistan vs Bangladesh
- Venue: Colombo
- Year: 2004
👉 This remains the longest over ever bowled in ODI cricket
🤯 What Happened in That Over?
The over included:
- Multiple wides and no-balls
- Only 6 legal deliveries completed
- Continuous pressure and loss of control
👉 This 17-ball over remains the record for most balls bowled in a single over in ODI cricket.
📋 Top Longest Overs in ODI Cricket
| Rank | Player | Balls | Extras | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohammad Sami | 17 | 11 | 2004 |
| 2 | Daan van Bunge | 16 | 10 | 2006 |
| 3 | Suranga Lakmal | 15 | 9 | 2014 |
| 4 | Younis Khan | 14 | 8 | 2000 |
| 5 | Vinay Kumar | 14 | 8 | 2013 |
⚡ Why This Record is So Unique
- Overs normally have only 6 balls
- Extras extend the over indefinitely
- Rare combination of wides + no-balls
👉 Shows how unpredictable cricket can be
🧠 Match Context
- Tournament: Asia Cup 2004
- Pakistan eventually won the match
- Despite the over, Sami had a decent spell overall
🏏 Understanding Why Overs Become Long
An over continues until 6 legal balls are bowled.
Extras like:
- Wides
- No-balls
👉 Do NOT count as legal deliveries → over gets longer
🔗 Related Records
👉 Explore more:
FAQs
What is the longest over in cricket history?
The longest over was 17 balls, bowled by Mohammad Sami.
How many extras were bowled in that over?
There were 11 extras – 7 wides and 4 no-balls.
When did this happen?
It happened in 2004 during the Asia Cup.
Why can an over have more than 6 balls?
Because wides and no-balls do not count as legal deliveries.
Has anyone broken this record?
No, the 17-ball over remains the longest in ODI history.
Refer to Best Cricket Records Website ESPNCrickInfo for more such interesting information.