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.
(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 a 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 match is concluded as defined in 5 above, it is at an end. Nothing that happens thereafter shall be regarded as part of the match. 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, the result shall be stated as a win by the number of wickets still then to fall.
If the other side 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 Law 3.15 (Correctness of scores) and Law 4.2 (Correctness of scores) – the result cannot thereafter be changed.
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.
(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 a 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 match is concluded as defined in 5 above, it is at an end. Nothing that happens thereafter shall be regarded as part of the match. 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, the result shall be stated as a win by the number of wickets still then to fall.
If the other side 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 Law 3.15 (Correctness of scores) and Law 4.2 (Correctness of scores) – the result cannot thereafter be changed.
