What is First Innings in Cricket?

Written by: Joe Garland • 06.01.2025

What Are Innings in Cricket

Anyone who wants to learn more about online cricket betting simply must understand what the term “innings” means in the sport. We’ll describe it all in this guide and how it will affect your betting strategy, as well as explanations for innings in different cricket formats. Beginners or experienced bettors can certainly discover a thing or two with helpful tips on making smarter wagers. 

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What is the First Innings in Cricket

The innings in any cricket match simply refers to the time in which a team bats. The match will begin with a coin toss, and the captain who wins will choose to bat or bowl. The first innings is always when one team bats and attempts to make as many runs as possible.

The first innings ends when 10 batters are dismissed, the allotted overs are finished (50 for ODI and 20 for T20 matches), or a team declares (in Test cricket). Follow our cricket betting tips to bet on any innings.

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Do Innings Vary for Every Cricket Format?

Yes, there is a difference in innings for every cricket format. We have explained it below.   

Test Cricket

Each team is allowed two innings in a Test match. A team bats first, then the opposing team bats, and this structure is repeated once more so that a squad has batted twice. While there is no specific time limit on the Test match innings, there is a maximum of five days, and every batter must be dismissed or the score reached for a team to win. 

One-day International (ODI)

In an ODI, the first innings means the team bats first for a maximum of 50 overs or if all batters are dismissed. The team batting second must reach the scoring target before 50 overs are bowled.  

Twenty20 (T20)

Like ODI cricket, the match takes place in one day, but the format is much shorter as each team has a maximum of 20 overs to bat. The team batting in the first innings will make the initial target, and the team batting second will try to beat that total.  

Effect of Innings in Cricket Betting  

The first innings in cricket is a major factor for anyone betting on cricket. The total completely affects the match outcome and your bets. Here are a few tips when placing wagers on popular Indian betting sites

Over/under bets: One of the most popular bets for the first innings, the over/under essentially lets you place a bet on whether a squad will score more or fewer runs than a specific target set by the betting platform.  

Total Runs: It’s possible to bet on the amount of runs a team will make in the first innings. While more common in limited-over cricket like ODI and T20, it’s not unusual to place a wager on what a team will reach in the first innings of a Test match. 

Top Batter: It’s always fun to predict which batter will score the most runs in a team’s first innings. Pitch conditions, recent performances, and what number the batter is playing (are they an opening batter, for example) are all important to consider when betting. 

How Do I Place a Bet On Innings in Cricket?  

It’s easy enough to put a bet on the first innings in cricket using these steps:

  1. Choose your preferred cricket betting platform in India by checking lists found on OCBscores. 
  2. To get started, create an account and deposit funds (be sure to look for welcome bonuses for new users). 
  3. Check out the site’s cricket betting options for each match. Usually, several markets are already available, such as “Total Runs in the First Innings,” “Over/Under,” and “Top Batter.” You can also look for the 1st innings 6 over the line, which lets you bet on the score after the first six overs. 
  4. Browse around for the best odds and consider how each team has performed lately. Enter how much you wish to bet and confirm the amount. 
  5. You can check the match carefully by watching it live or viewing the stats online, then consider making a live bet for the second innings. 

FAQs

This will depend on the format, as ODI and T20 are limited overs or when 10 batters are dismissed. Test matches can last a few days or when the batters are dismissed.

The first innings in a cricket match is when one team sets the target score by trying to make as many runs as possible. The second one gives the other team a chance to beat that score.

Yes, it’s possible to bet the over/under on what a team will make in the first innings or even which batter will be the top scorer.

Joe Garland, sports contributor at ocbscores.com
Joe GarlandContributor

Joe is a massive sports fan, but he's most passionate about cricket, the NBA and the NFL. Joe is an expert sports contributor at OCBscores, and will provide you with only the best sports betting guides and tips to help maximise your betting potential.

Fact checked by: DhruvLast updated date: 24.02.2025