How Does Scoring Work In Cricket?

In cricket, scoring depends on the number of runs scored and wickets taken (known as outs). On the pitch, a wicket is a set of three sticks/stumps with two wooden bails on top. Each team takes turns to bowl and bat. When a team is batting, they attempt to score as many runs as possible.

Running

Once the batsman hits the ball, especially to an empty or remote part of the field, they may wish to run between the wickets to score runs. There is a batsman on each end of the pitch, and they will each run from their end of the pitch to the other end. If they successfully reach the other end of the pitch without the fielding team striking them out, one run is added to the total score. This run will also count towards the batsman’s (who hit the ball) individual score.

This way of scoring runs can keep going because if both the batsmen run to the other end of the pitch and back to their own, that is considered two runs. Running every time the ball is hit is not necessary, especially if the players believe they will not have enough time to make it back before the fielding team strikes their stumps. They can also score runs if the ball touches the boundary line or goes over the boundary lines. If the ball hits the boundary, that is equivalent to four runs. If the ball goes over the boundary lines, that is equivalent to six runs.

Collecting Wickets

On the other hand, the bowling team’s main goal is to get the batsman out or accumulate wickets. The five main ways to get a wicket are done through being caught, bowled, run out, stumped, or leg before wicket. If the batsman is caught, it means a fielder caught the bowled ball before it hit the ground. If the batsman is bowled, the two bails are knocked over by a bowled ball. If the batsman is run out, they fall short of the batting crease, and a player from the fielding team knocks over the wicket while the batter is running between the wickets. If the batsman is stumped, it means the wicket-keeper collects the cricket ball and knocks over the wicket before the batter is in the batting crease. Lastly, if the ball would hit the stumps if it wasn’t for the batsman’s pads, it is considered a leg before wicket.

As the game goes on, the batting team will have accumulated runs while the fielding team will have collected wickets. For example, if the batting team has 100 runs and the fielding team has collected five wickets, the score is “100/5” or “100-5.”

Game Length

Different cricket games have different lengths, depending on the type of tournament being played. For example, if a game is 20 overs (1 over = 6 balls) long, there will be 120 balls. The team must try to score as many runs as possible within those balls, and then they will switch sides. Another scenario is the batting team might have ten outs (wickets) before completing the overs and must switch sides then too. In the end, usually, the team with the highest number of runs wins.

Extras

In cricket, extras are ways in which additional runs can be scored by the batting team. One extra run is given to the batting team if the ball goes wide (it is too far from the batsman to be reasonably hit when it passes them). If there is an illegal delivery from the bowler, a “no ball” is declared, and one or two extra runs are given to the batsman.

Extra runs are also added to the team’s score if a batsman is able to complete runs without hitting the ball or if the ball makes it to the boundary without being hit. These added runs are called “byes.” The last type of extra is a “leg bye,” which is when the ball hits a part of the batsman’s body after they’ve made an attempt to hit the ball. All extras are up to the umpire’s discretion.

Penalty Runs

Penalty runs are a type of extra that is awarded as a result of a rules infraction by the opposing team. Penalty runs are typically assessed in the amount of five runs and punish unfair play or unsportsmanlike conduct. Penalty runs can be awarded to either the batting or fielding team, depending on the infraction. Common infractions punishable by penalty runs include wasting time, distracting or obstructing the batsman, tampering with the ball, and illegal substitution.

Cricket Game Officials

Cricket game officials are known as umpires, and each game of competitive cricket features two of them. The two umpires are in charge of different positions on the pitch, with one standing behind the stumps and at the bowler’s end and the other monitoring the square leg.

Cricket umpires are tasked with a variety of different tasks, such as making decisions on whether or not a no-ball has occurred, various instances in which a bye could be awarded, and the boundaries of the pitch. These sorts of decisions are extremely important to the score of a cricket game, and umpires will switch positions on the field after each over to ensure fairness and prevent bias from playing a large role in the match. Umpires are also occasionally tasked with utilizing the Umpire Decision Review System when players challenge their decisions.

Super Overs

Cricket is a bit different from most sports when it comes to overtime. In fact, most cricket games are allowed to end in a draw. For games that require a winner, such as in international tournaments, an additional period known as a “super over” is used to decide the winner. Super overs are the primary way in which ties are broken in limited-overs cricket. In a super over, each team plays another set of six deliveries (one over), and whichever team scores the most runs wins. As of 2019, if the score remains tied after the first super over, a second will be played. This tie-breaking method is mainly used in ODI and T20 cricket matches.

Cricket Scoring Rules Summary

• If a batsman hits the ball and runs to the other end of the pitch without being ruled out, one run is scored.
• If both batsmen run to the other side of the pitch and back successfully, two runs are scored.
• A ball that reaches the boundary scores four runs, while a ball that goes over the boundary scores six.
• The bowling team’s goal is to accumulate wickets or get the batters out.
• The ways to get a batsman out are by being bowled, caught, run out, stumped, or leg before wicket.
• An inning ends when ten of 11 batters are ruled out or the set amount of overs is hit.
• Some games will last until a certain amount of innings are played, while others are played with a limited number of overs.
• Additional runs called extras are given if there is illegal delivery by the bowler, if the batsman is struck, or if the batsman is able to complete runs without hitting the ball.
• Penalty runs are given for rule infringements committed by the opposing team.

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