A maiden over refers to an over bowled by a bowler in which no runs are scored by the batsman. In other words, the batsman fails to score any runs off the six deliveries bowled in that over. It is considered an achievement for the bowler and is often applauded by the fielding team and the spectators.

During a maiden over, the bowler successfully prevents the batsman from scoring runs through a combination of accurate bowling, good line and length, and effective field placements. The bowler's objective is to restrict the batsman's scoring opportunities and create pressure, which can lead to wickets or mistakes from the batsman.

A maiden over is recorded in the scorebook as a statistical achievement for the bowler. It is denoted by the letter "M" next to the bowler's name for that particular over. For example, if a bowler bowls a maiden over in a match, the scorecard will indicate "M" next to the bowler's name for that over, indicating that no runs were scored.

Maiden overs are significant in cricket as they can help control the run rate, build pressure on the batting side, and create opportunities for the fielding team to take wickets. They are considered a valuable contribution by the bowler to their team's efforts in restricting the opposition's scoring and maintaining control over the game.