Ball-by-ball scoring #
A method of cricket scoring in which every single delivery is recorded individually — the runs, extras, wickets and dismissal type — instead of only the totals at the end of the over.
Clear definitions of the cricket scoring terms you will meet on a scorecard — written so a new scorer, a coach reading match stats, or a fan following a live link can read them in seconds.
A method of cricket scoring in which every single delivery is recorded individually — the runs, extras, wickets and dismissal type — instead of only the totals at the end of the over.
A single batting turn for a team. In limited-overs cricket each side bats one innings; the innings ends when the team is bowled out (all ten wickets fall) or the allotted overs are bowled.
A set of six legal deliveries bowled from one end of the pitch. Wides and no-balls do not count toward the six legal balls and must be re-bowled.
An over in which the bowler concedes no runs from the bat or extras. Maidens are tracked in the bowling figures.
A legal delivery from which no runs are scored. The name comes from the dot a scorer marks on the scoresheet.
Four runs are awarded when the ball reaches the boundary rope along the ground; six runs are awarded when the ball clears the boundary on the full without bouncing.
An illegal delivery judged too wide of the batter to be hit. It adds one run to the batting team total as an extra and must be re-bowled — it does not count as one of the six balls in the over.
An illegal delivery, most commonly because the bowler overstepped the popping crease. It adds one run to the batting team total, must be re-bowled, and in white-ball cricket the next delivery is a free hit.
The delivery immediately after a no-ball in most limited-overs formats. The batter cannot be dismissed off a free hit by most modes (bowled, caught, LBW, stumped) — only run out, hit the ball twice, obstructing the field or hit wicket.
A run scored when the ball passes the batter without being struck by bat or body, and the batters complete a run. It counts to the team total but not to the batter's runs.
A run scored when the ball deflects off the batter's body (not the bat) and the batters complete a run. Like byes, leg byes count to the team total but not to the batter's individual score.
A dismissal of a batter — bowled, caught, leg before wicket (LBW), run out, stumped, hit wicket, hit the ball twice, obstructing the field or timed out. The innings ends after ten wickets unless the overs run out first.
The runs added by the two batters at the crease between the fall of one wicket and the next (or until the innings ends). Each partnership is tracked separately on a full scorecard.
The average number of runs a batting team scores per over so far. It is calculated as total runs ÷ overs faced.
In the second innings of a limited-overs chase, the runs per over the batting side still needs to score to win. It is calculated as runs still required ÷ overs still remaining.
A batter's scoring tempo, calculated as runs scored × 100 ÷ balls faced. A higher strike rate means a faster-scoring batter.
A bowler's average runs conceded per over. It is calculated as runs conceded ÷ overs bowled (counting only legal deliveries; wide and no-ball runs are added to the bowler's figures in most scoring conventions).
The summary record of a match. A full scorecard shows each batter's runs, balls, fours and sixes; each bowler's overs, runs, wickets and economy; the team totals, extras, run rate and the fall of wickets.
When the batting side has lost ten wickets, ending the innings even if overs remain.
The coin flip before the match. The captain who wins the toss chooses whether their team will bat or bowl first.
A fixed block of overs at the start (and in T20s, sometimes again later) during which fielding restrictions apply — typically only two fielders are permitted outside the 30-yard circle.
The standard mathematical method for resetting the target in a limited-overs match shortened by rain or other interruption. It uses the resources (overs and wickets) remaining when play stops to compute a fair revised target.
Forth Umpire is a free cricket scoring app that computes the run rate, strike rate, economy, partnerships and the full scorecard automatically as you score ball by ball.