Boundaries, catches near the rope and overthrows

Law 19 — Where the boundary is

Umpires fix the boundary before the toss for the entire match, with sightscreens outside it. The pitch-side edge of a boundary line or grounded marker is the boundary. If separate markers are used, the straight line between adjacent points defines it. A displaced marker does not move the boundary.

A live ball touching the boundary, ground beyond it or an object grounded beyond it has reached the boundary. The same applies if it touches a fielder grounded beyond it, or a catcher crosses it while still holding the ball before completing the catch. An intruding person, animal or object is assessed separately by the umpires.

Law 19 — Airborne fielders

For a fielder’s first contact with the delivered ball, their last ground contact before becoming airborne must have been entirely inside the boundary. A teammate’s earlier touch does not remove this requirement.

After a lawful first contact, a fielder may jump from outside and touch the ball while airborne. From then until the ball is dead, every subsequent contact with the ground must be inside the field. A fielder who sends the ball back from such a jump must land and remain inside, even if someone else completes the catch. Landing outside again results in a boundary even without further ball contact.

Law 19 — Boundary runs and overthrows

Unless different allowances were agreed before the toss, a ball struck by the bat that first grounds beyond the boundary earns 6. A boundary after a bounce, or without a bat strike, earns 4. A fielder touching the ball does not by itself stop a six. Ordinarily, the award is the greater of the boundary allowance and completed runs plus the current run if the batters had crossed when the boundary occurred.

For an overthrow or qualifying wilful act, add the boundary allowance to runs already completed and the current run only if the batters had crossed when the throw or act happened, plus applicable penalties. The reference moment is the throw, not when the ball reaches the rope.

An overthrow here is a ball directed towards the wickets to attempt a Run out or prevent further scoring, then crossing the boundary. A failed attempt to stop the ball, or a short pass between fielders near the rope, is not an overthrow. A wilful act for this rule is a deliberate action not intended to prevent runs, achieve a Run out or complete a catch.