How to Read a Cricket Scorecard
What every column in a cricket scorecard means — batting, bowling, extras, fall of wickets, and how to find the key numbers at a glance.
A cricket scorecard is the complete statistical record of a match. It shows every batter's score, how they were dismissed, each bowler's figures, and the cumulative match total. Reading a scorecard fluently is the starting point for understanding cricket deeply.
The Batting Section
- Player name: Listed in batting order (1–11).
- How out: The method of dismissal — 'c [fielder] b [bowler]' means caught; 'b [bowler]' means bowled; 'lbw b [bowler]' means leg before wicket; 'run out ([fielder])' means run out; 'not out' means still batting.
- R (Runs): Total runs scored by that batter in the innings.
- B (Balls): Total deliveries faced.
- 4s: Number of fours hit.
- 6s: Number of sixes hit.
- SR (Strike Rate): Runs per 100 balls = (R ÷ B) × 100.
The Bowling Section
- O (Overs): Total overs bowled.
- M (Maidens): Number of overs where zero runs were conceded.
- R (Runs): Total runs conceded.
- W (Wickets): Total wickets taken.
- Econ (Economy): Runs per over = R ÷ O.
- WD (Wides) and NB (No-balls): Illegal deliveries bowled.
Extras
Extras are runs not attributed to any batter: wides (W), no-balls (NB), byes (B), leg byes (LB), and penalties. Byes are balls that pass both bat and keeper. Leg byes are balls that deflect off the batter's body and allow runs to be taken. Extras contribute to the team total but do not appear in any individual batter's score.
Fall of Wickets
The fall of wickets section (FOW) shows the team's score when each wicket fell: '1-45 (Smith, 8.3)' means the first wicket fell when the total was 45, the batter dismissed was Smith, and the wicket fell in the third ball of the 9th over. FOW reveals batting collapses, partnerships, and which stages of the innings were most critical.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'DNB' mean in a scorecard?
DNB stands for 'Did Not Bat'. It appears next to a player's name in the scorecard when they were listed in the squad or team but did not get the opportunity to bat because the innings ended before their turn. This is common in limited-overs cricket when the team is bowled out for fewer than 11 batters, or in Test cricket when the team declares.
What is a 'pair' in cricket?
A pair (or 'king pair' for golden ducks in both) means a batter was dismissed for 0 in both innings of the same Test match. A pair is one of the most embarrassing individual statistical outcomes in Test cricket. A 'king pair' — dismissed first ball for 0 in both innings — is even rarer.
How do I find who won the match in a scorecard?
The match result appears at the top or bottom of a full scorecard — typically 'Team A won by X runs' or 'Team B won by X wickets'. In a by-wickets result, the chasing team won with wickets in hand; in a by-runs result, the first-innings team defended their total successfully.