In the sport of cricket, a tie occurs when the match is concluded with each team having scored exactly the same number of runs, and the team batting last having completed its second innings. The definition of a completed innings is all ten batsmen having been dismissed, or the pre-determined number of overs having been bowled. It has been on rare occasions only that an important or first-class match has ended in a tie. In more than 300 years since the earliest important matches were played, there have been 70, including two in Test matches.

Earliest known ties The earliest known instance of a tie is in a single wicket "threes" match at Lamb's Conduit Field on Wednesday, 1 September 1736. Three London players were matched against three of Surrey. Although the sources give different totals for each innings, they are agreed that both teams totalled 23 overall. London batted first and scored either 4 and 19, or 3 and 18. Surrey replied with either 18 and 5, or 17 and 6. Five years later, the same two teams produced the earliest known tie in an important eleven-a-side match.

In 1948, the Imperial Cricket Conference (the ICC) ruled that if scores are level when scheduled play ends, but the team batting last still has wickets in hand, the result is a draw, and not a tie. There had previously been ties in which the final innings was incomplete.

Famous tied matches The two tied Tests both ended on the penultimate ball of the match. In 1960–61, Australia v West Indies finished with a run out on ball 7 of 8. In 1986–87, India v Australia finished on ball 5 of 6 in the final over of play. In 2024, the match between Gloucestershire and Glamorgan was tied on the last possible ball of the match.

In January 2021, the 2020–21 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final ended as a tie, the first time it had occurred in a domestic first-class cricket tournament final.

List Below is a list of all important and first-class matches that have been declared tied, including those before 1948 which would have been draws in the modern era.

Surrey v London 1741 Surrey unknown & unknown Tie Richmond Green, London Umpires: unknown London unknown & unknown

London v Bromley 1742 London unknown & unknown Tie Artillery Ground, London Umpires: unknown Bromley unknown & unknown

Hampshire v Kent 1783 Hampshire 140 & 62 TieThomas Taylor 51 William Bullen 4/?Noah Mann 13 William Bullen 2/?Windmill Down, Hambledon, Hampshire Umpires: unknown Kent 111 & 91William Brazier 27 Lumpy Stevens 2/?James Aylward 27 Lumpy Stevens 2/?

MCC v Oxford & Cambridge Universities 1839 Oxford and Cambridge Universities 115 & 61 TieJoseph Grout 28 James Cobbett 8/?John Wynne 20 John Bayley 6/?Lord's Cricket Ground, London, England Umpires: unknown Marylebone Cricket Club 69 & 107Roger Kynaston 21 Edward Sayres 5/?Roger Kynaston 28 Edward Sayres 5/?

Surrey v Kent 1847

Surrey v MCC 1868 MCC 175 & 122 TieFrancis Baker 53 George Griffith 5/73E. M. Grace 53 John Bristow 6/49Kennington Oval, London, England Umpires: Julius Caesar and G. Street Surrey 204 & 93Ted Pooley 50 Frank Farrands 3/72Will Mortlock 32 George Wootton 6/49

Surrey v Middlesex 1868 Middlesex 112 & 167 TieCharles Green 44 James Street 6/51Henry Richardson 56 James Southerton 7/82Kennington Oval, London, England Umpires: Julius Caesar and W. Inwood Surrey 93 & 186George Griffith 31 George Howitt 5/16Thomas Humphrey 52 Edward Rutter 6/68

Wellington v Nelson 1873/74 Wellington 63 & 118 TieNathaniel Werry 16 Charles Knapp 5/25Charles Knapp 37 Christopher Cross 4/33Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand Umpires: ? and W. J. Jordan Nelson 111 & 70Harry Halliday 35 Isaac Salmon 6/22Christopher Cross 18 Isaac Salmon 7/36

Surrey v Middlesex 1876 Middlesex 138 & 322 TieArthur Burghes 44 James Southerton 5/38Russell Walker 104 James Southerton 3/88Kennington Oval, London, England Umpires: George Howitt and Tom Humphrey Surrey 215 & 245Walter Read 94 Robert Henderson 6/66Ted Barratt 67 Michael Flanagan 3/46

Gentlemen v Players 1883 Players 203 & 181 TieGeorge Ulyett 63 Hugh Rotherham 6/41Billy Bates 76 A. G. Steel 7/43Kennington Oval, London, England Umpires: Harry Jupp and James Street Gentlemen 235 & 149Lord Harris 38 Billy Barnes 3/48Bunny Lucas 47 Wilfred Flowers 6/40

Surrey v Lancashire 1894 Surrey 97 & 124 TieAlfred Street 48 Johnny Briggs 7/46Walter Read 33* Johnny Briggs 6/47Kennington Oval, London, England Umpires: Henry Draper and Edward Henty Lancashire 147 & 74Sidney Tindall 49 Tom Richardson 5/52Charles Smith 21 William Lockwood 6/30

Worcestershire v South Africans 1901 South Africans 293 & 140 TieMaitland Hathorn 90 George Wilson 5/123Louis Tancred 34 George Wilson 5/39New Road, Worcester, England Umpires: George Bean and Valentine Titchmarsh Worcestershire 224 & 209Arthur Bannister 44 Johannes Kotze 6/82George Simpson-Hayward 52 Robert Graham 8/90

Middlesex v South Africans 1904 Middlesex 272 & 225 TieBernard Bosanquet 110 Johannes Kotze 5/94Bernard Bosanquet 44 Reggie Schwarz 5/48Lord's, London, England Umpires: William Attewell and Thomas Mycroft South Africans 287 & 210Frank Mitchell 66 Albert Trott 4/80Louis Tancred 75 Albert Trott 6/75

Lancashire v England 1905 England 193 & 228/6 dec. TieJohn Gunn 50 James Hallows 4/55George Gunn 48 Frank Harry 3/47Stanley Park, Blackpool, England Umpires: Dick Barlow and William West Lancashire 253 & 168/7Archie MacLaren 93 George Gunn 3/49Frank Harry 64* John Gunn 3/51

Surrey v Kent 1905 Kent 202 & 84 TieSam Day 61 Razor Smith 5/63Sam Day 26 Walter Lees 7/29Kennington Oval, London, England Umpires: Thomas Mycroft and A. White Surrey 125 & 161Jack Crawford 31 Colin Blythe 5/45Tom Hayward 40 Colin Blythe 6/47

MCC v Leicestershire 1907 Marylebone Cricket Club 371 & 69 TieLen Braund 137 William Odell 4/76Len Braund 19 Thomas Jayes 5/31Lord's Cricket Ground, London, England Umpires: William Attewell and George Bean Leicestershire 239 & 201Samuel Coe 100 Claude Buckenham 4/74Samuel Coe 66 Bill Reeves 4/52

Jamaica v MCC 1910/11 Marylebone Cricket Club 269 & 131 TieSydney Smith 81 Tommy Scott 6/77Tom Whittington 34 Tommy Scott 5/61Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica Umpires: unknown Jamaica 173 & 227Joseph Holt 39 Sydney Smith 5/35Thomas Nicholson 49 Sydney Smith 4/35

Somerset v Sussex 1919 Somerset 243 & 103 TieDudley Rippon 60 George Cox 5/51Jimmy Bridges 14 George Cox 4/26County Ground, Taunton, England Umpires: Frederick G. Roberts and Alfred Street Sussex 242 & 104Maurice Tate 69 Jimmy Bridges 5/84Herbert Wilson 42* Jimmy Bridges 3/32

Orange Free State v Eastern Province 1925/26 Orange Free State 100 & 349 TieShunter Coen 42 Arthur Ochse 5/26Ryeford Dick 56 Kenneth McRobert 4/68Ramblers Cricket Club Ground, Bloemfontein, South Africa Umpires: Unknown Eastern Province 225 & 224/8Southey Stirk 48 Bernard Susskind 3/41Campbell Munro 39 Joseph Abell 2/8

Essex v Somerset 1926 Somerset 208 & 107 TieJack MacBryan 80 Jack Russell 3/39Box Case 23* Laurie Eastman 6/59County Cricket Ground, Chelmsford, England Umpires: Frank Chester and Jimmy Stone Essex 178 & 137/9John Freeman 43 Jack White 5/57John Freeman 37 Jimmy Bridges 5/33

Gloucestershire v Australians 1930 Gloucestershire 72 & 202 TieFrederick Seabrook 19 Percy Hornibrook 4/20Wally Hammond 89 Percy Hornibrook 5/49County Cricket Ground, Bristol, England Umpires: Walter Buswell and Bill Huddleston Australians 157 & 117Bill Ponsford 51 Tom Goddard 5/52Stan McCabe 34 Charlie Parker 7/54

Victoria v MCC 1932/33 Marylebone Cricket Club 321 & 183/9 dec. TieMaurice Tate 94 Bert Ironmonger 3/82Wally Hammond 64 Bert Ironmonger 5/31Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia Umpires: A. Barlow and W. Moore Victoria 327 & 177/3Len Darling 103 Freddie Brown 3/63Keith Rigg 88 Bill Bowes 2/56

Worcestershire v Somerset 1939 Worcestershire 130 & 142 TieEdwin Cooper 69 Arthur Wellard 7/45Dick Howorth 45 Horace Hazell 5/6Chester Road North Ground, Kidderminster, England Umpires: Ernest Cooke and John Smart Somerset 131 & 141Bertie Buse 26 Reg Perks 4/40Peter McRae 28 Dick Howorth 4/27

Southern Punjab v Baroda 1945/46 Southern Punjab 167 & 146 TieLala Amarnath 91 Vijay Hazare 5/52Maqsood Ahmed 56 Vijay Hazare 5/53Baradari Ground, Patiala, India Umpires: Idrees Baig and Shujauddin Siddiqi Baroda 106 & 207Hemu Adhikari 18Shankarrao Powar 18 Aftab Ahmed 6/37Raosaheb Nimbalkar 52 Lala Amarnath 4/44

Essex v Northamptonshire 1947 Northamptonshire 215 & 291 TieVincent Broderick 49 Peter Smith 4/65John Timms 112 Peter Smith 6/84Valentines Park, London, England Umpires: Herbert Baldwin and Frank Chester Essex 267 & 239Chick Cray 100 Nobby Clark 3/42Len Clark 64 Vincent Broderick 4/48

Hampshire v Lancashire 1947 Hampshire 363 & 224/7 dec. TieJim Bailey 95 Ken Cranston 4/73Jim Bailey 63 William Roberts 2/30Dean Park Cricket Ground, Bournemouth, England Umpires: H. Cruice and Fred Root Lancashire 367/9 dec. & 220Ken Cranston 155* Victor Ransom 3/68Cyril Washbrook 105 Jim Bailey 6/82

D. G. Bradman's XI v A. L. Hassett's XI 1948/49 A. L. Hassett's XI 406 & 430 TieRay Lindwall 104 Sam Loxton 3/39Lindsay Hassett 102 Doug Ring 3/150Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia Umpires: A. Barlow and R. Wright D. G. Bradman's XI 434 & 402/9Donald Bradman 123 Colin McCool 5/101Don Tallon 146* Ray Lindwall 3/32

Hampshire v Kent 1950 Kent 162 & 170 TieGodfrey Evans 71 Charlie Knott 4/49Les Ames 55 (retired hurt) Charlie Knott 5/46County Ground, Southampton, England Umpires: Herbert Baldwin and Frank Lee Hampshire 180 & 152Clifford Walker 46 Doug Wright 6/91John Arnold 52 Alan Shirreff 3/27

Sussex v Warwickshire 1952 Warwickshire 138 & 116 TieTom Dollery 55 Ted James 3/16Alan Townsend 41 Jim Wood 4/40County Cricket Ground, Hove, England Umpires: Joe Hills and Fred Price Sussex 123 & 131John Langridge 65 Charles Grove 4/42George Cox 27 Charles Oakes 27 Charles Grove 6/49

Essex v Lancashire 1952 Lancashire 266 & 226/7 dec. TieAlan Wharton 85 Ken Preston 5/49Geoff Edrich 69 Ray Smith 6/122Old County Ground, Brentwood, England Umpires: Tom Spencer and C. H. Welch Essex 261 & 231Bill Greensmith 56 Geoff Lomax 3/37Trevor Bailey 52 Roy Tattersall 4/61

Northamptonshire v Middlesex 1953 Middlesex 96 & 312 TieBill Edrich 55 Robert Clarke 5/31Denis Compton 100 Freddie Brown 6/71Town Ground, Peterborough, England Umpires: K. McCanlis and H. Palmer Northamptonshire 182 & 226Dennis Brookes 53 Alan Moss 3/61Des Barrick 80* Alan Moss 5/68

Yorkshire v Leicestershire 1954 Yorkshire 351/4 dec. & 113 TieVic Wilson 138 Jack Walsh 2/77Ted Lester 34 Terry Spencer 9/63Fartown, Huddersfield, England Umpires: Ernest Cooke and Harry Elliott Leicestershire 328 & 136Maurice Tompkin 149 Johnny Wardle 4/82Charles Palmer 31 Victor Munden 31 Fred Trueman 4/44

Sussex v Hampshire 1955 Sussex 172 & 120 TieJohn Langridge 48 Derek Shackleton 4/45Robin Marlar 23 Derek Shackleton 5/42The Saffrons, Eastbourne, England Umpires: Ernest Cooke and Harry Elliott Hampshire 153 & 139Henry Horton 40 Ted James 4/60Alan Rayment 30 Ted James 5/49

Victoria v New South Wales 1956/57 Victoria 244 & 197 TieIan Meckiff 55 Richie Benaud 4/67John Shaw 52 John Treanor 5/36St Kilda Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia Umpires: J. Ward and R. Wright New South Wales 281 & 160Jim Burke 132* Ian Meckiff 3/65Richie Benaud 63 Lindsay Kline 6/57

T. N. Pearce's XI v New Zealanders 1958 New Zealanders 268 & 303/8 dec. TieBert Sutcliffe 77 Peter Sainsbury 4/91John Sparling 85 Peter Sainsbury 4/58North Marine Road, Scarborough, England Umpires: Buddy Oldfield and Alec Skelding T. N. Pearce's XI 313/7 dec. & 258Peter May 131 Bert Sutcliffe 3/67Godfrey Evans 69 Johnny Hayes 5/72

Essex v Gloucestershire 1959 Essex 364/6 dec. & 176/8 dec. TieDoug Insole 177* Tony Brown 3/66Doug Insole 90 Tony Brown 4/60Leyton Cricket Ground, Leyton, England Umpires: Arthur Fagg and Tom Spencer Gloucestershire 329 & 211Arthur Milton 99 Barry Knight 4/69Tony Brown 91 Barry Knight 4/64

Australia v West Indies 1960/61

West Indies 453 & 284 TieGarfield Sobers 132