For new fans, cricket scoring can feel confusing with runs, wickets, overs and extras all mixed together. At its core, the goal is straightforward: the batting team tries to collect as many runs as possible, while the bowling team works to stop runs and take wickets to end the innings. This beginner guide breaks down the standard scoring rules for T20, ODI and Test cricket.
The basic unit of scoring is a run. When a batter hits the ball, they and their batting partner can run between the two sets of stumps. Each time both batters safely swap ends, one run is added. If they complete two swaps, they get two runs, and three runs are possible when the fielders slow to gather the ball. An odd number of runs swaps which batter will face the next delivery, while even runs keep the same batter on strike.
Boundaries are the fastest way to score. If the ball bounces inside the field before crossing the boundary rope, it counts as four runs. If the ball flies over the boundary without touching the ground at all, it is a six. No running is needed for boundaries, and these runs go directly to the batter’s personal total and the team score. A delivery with no runs scored is known as a dot ball.
One over is made up of six valid balls bowled by the same bowler. Wides and no-balls do not count toward the six balls of an over, so the bowler must bowl an extra delivery to make up for it. A score display like 182/5 (19.4) means the team has 182 runs, 5 wickets lost, and 19 overs plus 4 balls have been bowled.
Extras, also called sundries, are runs added to the team total that do not count toward any individual batter. There are four main types. Wides are deliveries too far from the batter to play, awarding one extra run. No-balls are illegal deliveries, usually when the bowler steps over the crease, and they also give one run plus a free hit in limited-overs games. Byes happen when the ball passes the batter without touching the bat or body, and the pair chooses to run. Leg byes come when the ball hits the batter’s pad or body, not the bat, and they complete runs.
Wickets decide when an innings ends. A team has 10 wickets in an innings. Every time a batter is dismissed, one wicket falls. Once all 10 batters are out, the innings closes immediately. In limited-overs formats such as T20 and ODI, the innings also ends once the fixed overs are finished, even if wickets remain. Common dismissal types include caught, bowled, LBW, stumped and run out.
After the first team finishes batting, the second team gets their turn to chase the target. If they reach the target before losing all 10 wickets or running out of overs, they win by wickets. If they fall short, the first team wins by runs. A tie happens when both teams finish with exactly the same total runs. Some matches use a super over to decide a winner after a tie.
Two important statistics you will see on scorecards are strike rate and economy. A batter’s strike rate shows how quickly they score runs, calculated by runs divided by balls faced times 100. A bowler’s economy rate shows the average runs they give away per over, a key metric for tight bowling.
New viewers often overlook extras, but they can change the flow of a match. Consistent wides and no-balls gift free runs to the batting side. Learning to read the team total, wickets and overs first makes it easy to follow the action, before you dive deeper into individual batter and bowling stats. With these simple rules, you can follow any cricket match and understand how every run adds up.