Read a cricket scorecard in two minutes

A scorecard looks dense, but most of it follows a simple pattern once you know where to look.

Batting: runs and balls

Each batter's line shows runs scored and balls faced. Strike rate is runs per hundred balls — above 130 is quick in T20, around 50 is normal in Tests.

Bowling: overs, runs, wickets

A line like 4-0-28-2 means four overs, no maidens, 28 runs conceded and two wickets. Economy is runs per over.

The summary line

The total with wickets — say 168/6 — and the overs used tell you how the innings went at a glance.