Law 21 (The result)
1. A Win – two innings match
The side which has scored a total of runs in excess of that scored in the two
completed innings of the opposing side shall win the match. Note also 6 below.
A forfeited innings is to count as a completed innings. See Law 14 (Declaration
and forfeiture).
2. A Win – one innings match
The side which has scored in its one innings a total of runs in excess of that
scored by the opposing side in its one completed innings shall win the match.
Note also 6 below.
3. Umpires awarding a match
(a) A match shall be lost by a side which
either (i) concedes defeat
or (ii) in the opinion of the umpires refuses to play
and the umpires shall award the match to the other side.
(b) If an umpire considers that an action by any player or
players might constitute a refusal by either side to play then
the umpires together shall ascertain the cause of the action.
If they then decide together that this action does constitute
a refusal to play by one side, they shall so inform the captain
of that side. If the captain persists in the action the umpires
shall award the match in accordance with (a)(ii) above.
(c) If action as in (b) above takes place after play has started
and does not constitute a refusal to play
(i) playing time lost shall be counted from the start of the action until play
recommences, subject to Law 15.5 (Changing agreed times for intervals).
(ii) the time for close of play on that day shall be extended by this length
of time, subject to Law 3.9 (Suspension of play for adverse conditions of ground,
weather or light).
(iii) if applicable, no overs shall be deducted during the last hour of the
match solely on account of this time.
4. A Tie
The result of a match shall be a Tie when the scores are equal at the conclusion
of play, but only if the side batting last has completed its innings.
5. A Draw
A match which is concluded, as defined in Law 16.9 (Conclusion of match), without
being determined in any of the ways stated in 1, 2, 3 or 4 above, shall count
as a Draw.
6. Winning hit or extras
(a) As soon as a result is reached, as defined in 1, 2, 3 or 4 above, the match
is at an end. Nothing that happens thereafter, except as in Law 42.17(b)
(Penalty runs), shall be regarded as part of it. Note also 9 below.
(b) The side batting last will have scored enough runs to
win only if its total of runs is sufficient without including
any runs completed before the dismissal of the striker by the
completion of a catch or by the obstruction of a catch.
(c) If a boundary is scored before the batsmen have completed
sufficient runs to win the match, then the whole of the boundary
allowance shall be credited to the side's total and, in the
case of a hit by the bat, to the striker's score.
7. Statement of result
If the side batting last wins the match without losing all its wickets, the
result shall be stated as a win by the number of wickets still then to fall.
If the side batting last has lost all its wickets but, as the result of an
award of 5 penalty runs at the end of the match, has scored a total of runs
in excess of the total scored by the opposing side, the result shall be stated
as a win to that side by Penalty runs.
If the side fielding last wins the match, the result shall be stated as a win
by runs.
If the match is decided by one side conceding defeat or refusing to play, the
result shall be stated as Match Conceded or Match Awarded as the case may be.
8. Correctness of result
Any decision as to the correctness of the scores shall be the responsibility
of the umpires. See Law 3.15 (Correctness of scores).
9. Mistakes in scoring
If, after the umpires and players have left the field in the belief that the
match has been concluded, the umpires discover that a mistake in scoring
has occurred which affects the result, then, subject to 10 below, they shall
adopt the following procedure.
(a) If, when the players leave the field, the side batting last has not completed
its innings, and
either (i) the number of overs to be bowled in the last hour has not been completed,
or (ii) the agreed finishing time has not been reached,
then unless one side concedes defeat the umpires shall order play to resume.
If conditions permit, play will then continue until the prescribed number of
overs has been completed and the time remaining has elapsed, unless a result
is reached earlier. The number of overs and/or the time remaining shall be
taken as they were when the players left the field; no account shall be taken
of the time between that moment and the resumption of play.
(b) If, when the players leave the field, the overs have been
completed and time has been reached, or if the side batting
last has completed its innings, the umpires shall immediately
inform both captains of the necessary corrections to the scores
and to the result.
10. Result not to be changed
Once the umpires have agreed with the scorers the correctness of the scores
at the conclusion of the match – see Laws 3.15 (Correctness of scores)
and 4.2 (Correctness of scores) – the result cannot thereafter be changed.