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dot ball

British  

noun

  1. cricket a ball from which a run is not scored

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of dot ball

when no run is scored, the scorer places a dot in his or her record book

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Batting demands relentless stroke play, where even a dot ball is unacceptable.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2024

Williamson sliced the next delivery through point for four to level the scores before Fernando bowled a bouncer that was close to being called wide on height but was ruled a dot ball.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2023

“He was always trying to bowl dot balls. A dot ball is a good ball, he’d say. Last ball of every over had to be a dot ball.”

From Reuters • Jun. 7, 2020

The charging cut shot is brought out from the last ball, but Bailey at cover makes a sensational diving save to make a four into a dot ball.

From The Guardian • Feb. 5, 2016

Another six was followed by a four, before Fuller produced a dot ball.

From The Guardian • Jul. 24, 2012

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