Fall of first wicket betting is betting on a team's score at the moment its first batter is dismissed, usually as an over or under line, such as 22.5, on one innings. The score is the team's total, extras included, so an under on 22.5 wins if the first wicket falls at 22 or fewer, and loses at 23 or more.
How fall of first wicket lines settle
A line ending in .5 cannot land on the number, so it is never a push, the result that refunds the stake. With illustrative prices of $1.90 each way, a winning $20 bet returns 20 x 1.90 = $38:
| First wicket falls at | Over 22.5 | Under 22.5 |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 22 | Loses $20 | Returns $38 |
| 23 or more | Returns $38 | Loses $20 |
The same number goes by other names, first wicket runs or opening partnership runs. They match unless an opener retires hurt, the case opening partnership works through. In a Test, check which innings the market names.
If no wicket falls
An innings can end with no wicket down: a chase won by ten wickets, a declaration, or rain. Rule types differ, so check your bookmaker's terms:
| Rule type | Chase won at 0/141 | Rain ends the innings at 0/18 |
|---|---|---|
| The innings total counts as the score | Over wins | Under wins |
| Void if no wicket falls | Refunded | Refunded |
| Stands only if already decided | Over wins, as 141 passed 22.5 | Refunded |
Rain that cuts the overs raises the same question for a bet still open, while a bet already decided, such as an under once the wicket has fallen at 9, stands under the NSW rules for authorised bookmakers (clause 5.2.2.3(a)).
Opening batters and conditions
Openers face the new ball while it is hardest and most likely to swing or seam, so cloud cover or a grassy pitch tends to favour the bowlers early. In one-day and T20 cricket they also bat in the powerplay, when only two fielders may stand outside the circle, so runs and wickets can both come quickly. Captains name their XI, not their batting order, before the toss (ICC T20I clause 1.2.1), so watch for a dropped or injured opener: the opening pair is only certain when they walk out. Top batter betting covers the top-order bias in batting markets.
Opening stands are lopsided too: they cannot go below zero but can run past 100, so a few big stands lift the average above the typical one.
Example: ten opening stands at one ground: 0, 3, 7, 12, 16, 21, 29, 44, 70 and 118. Illustrative numbers, not real data.
The average is 320 / 10 = 32.0, but the median, the middle of the list, is (16 + 21) / 2 = 18.5. A line of 31.5, set at the average, would have gone under seven times in ten. To test a real line, list a venue's last 20 or so first-wicket scores from official scorecards and compare their median with it; cricket total runs betting covers venue effects on whole-innings lines.
Risk: Betting involves risk. Twenty innings is a small sample, conditions change from match to match, and an under that looks well priced can still lose. See responsible gambling for limits and support.
Comparing the markets around a first-wicket bet
The Terminal's sports board compares head to head, line and total markets, and player props where bookmakers offer them. For a first-wicket line outside those, line up the terms and prices in your own accounts. The board reads its prices on a repeating cycle, so confirm any price with your bookmaker. A free account opens a limited view of the Terminal with live odds, and cricket betting covers the main cricket markets.
Risk: Betting involves risk. One delivery can settle a first-wicket bet, and a median from a handful of matches is an estimate, not a forecast. See responsible gambling for limits and support.