How Long Does a Cricket Game Last? All Formats Explained
Cricket match duration ranges from about 3 hours for a T20 to 5 days for a Test. The exact length depends on format, weather, and how quickly wickets fall.
Cricket match duration depends entirely on the format: a T20 lasts roughly 3 hours, an ODI around 7–8 hours across a single day, and a Test match up to 5 days. Weather, slow over rates, and how quickly sides dismiss one another can all shorten or (in Tests) extend play within a day.
Duration by format at a glance
| Format | Overs per team | Typical duration | Days of play |
|---|---|---|---|
| T20 | 20 | ~3–3.5 hours | 1 (evening) |
| T10 | 10 | ~90 minutes | 1 (shorter session) |
| The Hundred | 100 balls | ~2.5–3 hours | 1 |
| ODI (50-over) | 50 | ~7–8 hours | 1 (full day) |
| Test match | Unlimited (90 overs/day max) | Up to 5 days | 5 |
| First-class (non-Test) | Unlimited | 3–4 days | 3 or 4 |
T20 matches
Twenty-over cricket is designed for a single session. Each team’s 20 overs take roughly 80–90 minutes to bowl, plus an innings break of 20 minutes. Total match time is usually 3 to 3.5 hours. IPL matches, with strategic timeouts, can run slightly longer — closer to 3.5–4 hours including pre-match and presentation ceremonies.
ODI matches
A 50-over match is a full day of cricket. Teams alternate batting in two innings across roughly 7–8 hours of play, with a 45-minute break between innings. D/L (Duckworth-Lewis-Stern) method applies if rain interrupts; matches shortened by rain can finish in 5–6 hours.
Test matches
Tests are the longest format:
- Scheduled: up to 5 days
- Daily play: typically 6 hours, with a target of 90 overs
- Lunch and tea breaks: two breaks per day of roughly 40 minutes combined
Many Tests finish in 3 or 4 days if one side bowls the other out cheaply twice. Tests can also end in a draw — particularly if the fifth day is rain-affected or batters defend successfully.
What can make a match shorter?
- All-out scores: if a team is bowled out quickly, the innings ends early
- Rain delays: matches shortened by DLS or abandoned
- Day-night Tests: later starts and a pink ball alter how sessions feel
- T20 weather rules: minimum 5 overs needed per team for a result
What can make a match longer?
- Slow over rates: international boards fine teams that bowl too slowly, but delays still happen
- Injury stoppages and DRS reviews: add minutes across a match
- Extra time in Tests: Day 5 can extend past the normal close if a result is possible
First-class and domestic formats
First-class matches outside Tests — county cricket, Sheffield Shield, Ranji Trophy — run 3 or 4 days. They follow similar daily structures to Tests but may have slightly different over targets per day depending on the governing body.
Quick summary: T20 = ~3 hours; ODI = ~7–8 hours across one day; Test = up to 5 days. Weather, over rates, and how quickly wickets fall all affect actual duration within those limits.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a T20 cricket match last?+
A T20 match typically lasts around 3 to 3.5 hours, including the innings break. Each team bats 20 overs; the over rate target is 14.11 minutes per over.
How many days does a Test match last?+
A Test match is scheduled for up to 5 days, with 90 overs per day. Many Tests finish in fewer days; some end in a draw on day 5.
How long is a One Day International (ODI)?+
An ODI takes roughly 7 to 8 hours to complete, including a 45-minute innings break. Each team faces up to 50 overs.