Scoring in One-Day 50-Over Cricket Demystified
Understanding the Score Board of a One-Day Cricket Game
Sep 6, 2009
Unlike Test Match Cricket, a 50-Over game is played in one day and each team bats only once. The innings of a team is completed when the 50 overs are bowled, irrespective of how many batsmen are out. Also the 50 overs have to be bowled within a set period of time.
The aim of the game is to score as many runs as possible and restrict the opposition by taking wickets or making it difficult to score the required number of runs.
Winning or Losing by a Number of Runs or a Number of Wickets
In a game between Team A and Team B, assume that Team A batted first and scored 265 runs in their 50 overs.
- Team B batted second for the full 50 overs but were all out with the score on 250. This means that Team A wins by 15 runs.
- Team B batting second could only bat for 45 overs because they lost all their wickets in that time and the score was only 245. Therefore, Team A wins by 20 runs.
- Team B batting second scored 266 runs at the completion of the 50 overs and had lost only 6 wickets. Therefore, Team B wins by 4 wickets.
- Team B batting second score 266 runs at the completion of only 47 overs and have lost only 7 wickets. This means that Team B wins by 3 wickets.
It is an anomaly that when the team batting first wins the game, they win by a 'number of runs' but when the team batting second wins the game, they win by a 'number of wickets'.
How the Game is Played
The team winning the toss elect to bat or bowl. This decision is based on factors such as the condition of the pitch, weather outlook and the preference of the team to 'accumulate' runs or 'chase' runs. Out of the 50 overs, 20 overs are termed 'powerplay' overs.
Powerplay Overs in a 50-Over Cricket Game
During a game of cricket the captain of the bowling team (also called the fielding team) decides where the fielders are placed. However, during 'powerplay' overs there are restrictions imposed.
The field has an 'infield' (also called the circle) and an 'outfield'. This is demarcated by drawing a line around the pitch to form a circle about 27.4m radius from the centre of the wicket.
During powerplay overs only three fielders are allowed to stand outside the circle or infield. The 20 powerplay overs are divided as follows:
- The first ten overs of the game are mandatory powerplay overs.
- Of the remaining 40 overs, the bowling captain can nominate a block of five overs as 'bowling powerplay' overs and the batting captain can nominate a block of five overs as the 'batting powerplay' overs.
50-Over Cricket Match Ending in a Draw
This is not a common occurrence but it does happen. If the two teams are on an equal number of runs at the end of their respective 50 overs, then the game is considered drawn, irrespective of how many wickets each team has lost.
 |
 |
