How to Read a Cricket Scoreboard
A cricket scoreboard shows runs, wickets, overs, run rate, and more. Learn how to read every number on a cricket scoreboard — including batting, bowling, and extras columns.
A cricket scoreboard contains more information than most sports displays. Runs, wickets, overs, run rate, required rate, partnership, batting and bowling figures — each element tells a story about the match's state. This guide explains every number.
The main scoreline
A cricket score like '186/4 (32.3)' means: 186 runs scored, 4 wickets fallen, 32 overs and 3 balls bowled. In Test cricket the score might show both innings: 'AUS 312 & 198/6' meaning Australia made 312 in the first innings and are 198 for 6 in the second.
Batting scorecard
| Column | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Batter | Name and position in batting order |
| Dismissal | How they were out (e.g. c Jones b Smith) |
| R (Runs) | Total runs scored |
| B (Balls) | Balls faced |
| 4s | Number of fours hit |
| 6s | Number of sixes hit |
| SR (Strike Rate) | Runs per 100 balls (R ÷ B × 100) |
Bowling scorecard
| Column | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Bowler | Name |
| O (Overs) | Overs bowled |
| M (Maidens) | Maiden overs bowled |
| R (Runs) | Runs conceded |
| W (Wickets) | Wickets taken |
| Econ (Economy) | Runs per over (R ÷ O) |
| Avg (Average) | Runs per wicket (R ÷ W) |
Extras
Extras appear separately: B (byes), LB (leg byes), W (wides), NB (no-balls), Pen (penalties). Total extras are added to the batting team's score. Wide and no-balls are the bowling team's fault; byes are the wicketkeeper's; leg byes are the batting side's incidentals.
Partnership and fall of wickets
Modern scoreboards show the current partnership (runs scored while the current pair has been batting) and 'fall of wickets' — when each wicket fell and at what team score. Fall of wickets helps you trace exactly when the match shifted.
Frequently asked questions
What does '186/4' mean in cricket?
186/4 means 186 runs scored with 4 wickets fallen. The number before the slash is runs; the number after is wickets lost.
What is strike rate in cricket?
Strike rate (SR) in batting is runs scored per 100 balls faced — calculated as (runs ÷ balls) × 100. A strike rate of 150 means 150 runs per 100 balls.
What are extras in cricket?
Extras are runs scored without the ball touching the bat — byes, leg byes, wides, no-balls, and penalties. They appear in a separate row in the batting scorecard.