A cricket scorecard can look intimidating, but each part has a clear purpose. Once you know what to look for, you can reconstruct how the match unfolded.

The batting card

It lists batters in the order they came in, how each was dismissed and the bowler or fielder involved, the runs scored, balls faced, and the number of fours and sixes. Batters who were not dismissed are shown as not out.

Extras and totals

Extras are runs not scored from the bat, such as wides, no-balls, byes and leg byes. The team total is shown with wickets lost and overs used, often with a run rate.

The bowling card

  • Overs: the number of six-ball sets bowled.
  • Maidens: overs with no runs conceded.
  • Runs: runs conceded.
  • Wickets: batters dismissed.
  • Economy: runs conceded per over.

Fall of wickets

This line shows the team score when each wicket fell, revealing partnerships and turning points.

Takeaway

Read the batting card, the bowling card and the fall of wickets together. The match story emerges from how they connect.