Four vs six: what makes a cricket boundary
Understand grounded boundaries, a six off the bat and why running does not simply add to the allowance.
Look at how the ball reaches the boundary
Under MCC Law 19, the usual allowance is four for a boundary four and six for a boundary six, unless determined differently under the Law. A six requires the ball to have been struck by the bat and first grounded beyond the boundary without touching the ground inside the field.
A ball bouncing inside the field before reaching the boundary is therefore not a six merely because its last bounce carries it over the rope. A touch by a fielder does not by itself rule out a six; the grounding conditions still matter.
The rope is part of the boundary
A ball touching the boundary marker can count as grounded beyond the boundary. The Law also covers a fielder touching the ball while grounded beyond it. These details explain why apparent saves need checking rather than a conclusion from the camera angle alone.
In a hypothetical ordinary four after the batters complete two runs, do not simply call the total six. The boundary provisions determine what is scored. Overthrows and completed running have additional rules, so unusual sequences need the actual facts.
Read the confirmed event
The boundary changes the team total, but its batting attribution depends on the delivery and contact. A boundary is not automatically four runs credited to the striker in every circumstance.
ScoreZaap links the changing total with the innings and match status. Wait for a confirmed event if a boundary save is under review. This example explains the general Law, not the outcome of a named live delivery.