Death-Overs Strategy

In this lesson you will learn why the final overs are so important. In the last four or five overs, batters with wickets in hand try to score from almost every ball, and a single over can swing the match. For the fielding side, one good over can win the game and one bad over can lose it. Pressure is highest here, so clear plans and calm thinking matter more than ever. Both captains should have decided well in advance who will bowl and who will bat at the end.

• One over can swing the match
• Batters attack almost every ball
• Pressure is at its highest
• Plan the finish well in advance

In this lesson you will look at finishing an innings with the bat. Set batters should take on the most risk because they are seeing the ball well. Decide which bowlers and which boundaries to target. Use the crease, moving back to hit shorter balls or forward to get under full ones. Look for gaps as well as the rope, because scoops, ramps and well-placed hits for two all count. Running hard every ball adds vital runs. Keep communicating between balls about the field and the bowler's likely plan. Clear thinking wins close finishes.

• Set batters take the most risk
• Target specific bowlers and boundaries
• Use the crease to change lengths
• Run hard and find gaps as well as the rope

In this lesson you will learn how to pick death bowlers. The best death bowlers can hit a yorker length repeatedly, disguise a slower ball and stay calm under pressure. A captain should identify them before the match and save their overs. Avoid giving the final over to an inexperienced bowler unless there is no choice. Track the overs used by each bowler throughout the innings, because the four-over limit in standard T20 playing conditions can leave you short at the end if you are careless. Discuss the plan with them during the innings break so they arrive ready.

• Look for yorker accuracy and disguise
• Identify death bowlers before the match
• Save their overs for the end
• Track each bowler's overs carefully

In this lesson you will look at the main deliveries used at the death. The yorker, pitched at the batter's toes, is hard to hit for six. The slower ball, if well disguised, can make batters mistime their shot. A wide yorker outside off stump, bowled to a field set on the off side, limits scoring options. A well-directed bouncer can surprise batters looking to drive. Standard T20 playing conditions typically limit short-pitched deliveries, so check the WFA competition regulations, and always put the safety of batters first. Practise these deliveries in training so they are reliable under pressure.

• The yorker is hard to hit for six
• Disguised slower balls cause mistimed shots
• Wide yorkers to an off-side field
• Short balls are limited; put safety first

In this lesson you will learn how to set fields for the final overs. Captains often place five fielders on the boundary to protect the most likely hitting areas, such as long-on, long-off, deep midwicket, deep square leg and deep point or third man. The field must match the bowler's plan: a wide-yorker plan needs off-side protection, while a straight-yorker plan needs long-on, long-off and fine leg. Keep your best fielders in the positions where the ball is most likely to go, and keep the ring tight to stop easy singles.

• Up to five boundary riders after the powerplay
• Field must match the bowler's plan
• Best fielders where the ball will go
• Keep the ring tight to stop singles

In this lesson you will learn why extras are so costly at the death. A wide gives away a run and an extra delivery. Under standard T20 playing conditions, a no-ball for overstepping is followed by a free hit, from which the batter cannot be out except in the ways allowed on a no-ball, such as run out. Many competitions extend the free hit to all no-balls, so check the WFA competition regulations. On a free hit, fielders may only move if the batter changes, so bowlers should aim for a yorker or a wide-line slower ball.

• Wides cost a run and an extra ball
• A front-foot no-ball brings a free hit
• Only limited dismissals on a free hit
• Bowl a yorker or wide slower ball on a free hit

In this lesson you will learn how captains stay calm when the match is on the line. Speak to your bowler before the over, agree the plan and the field, then let them bowl. Avoid changing the plan after every ball unless something has clearly gone wrong. If a boundary is hit, remind the bowler of the next delivery rather than the last one. Keep fielders focused on their jobs. With the bat, the dugout should give simple messages. A calm captain helps everyone else perform at their best. Leadership matters most here.

• Agree the plan before the over
• Do not change the plan every ball
• Focus on the next delivery, not the last
• Calm leadership helps everyone perform