How is the result stated, and what if a scoring mistake is found after the match?

Under Law 16 of the MCC Laws of Cricket (2017 Code, 4th Edition 2026):

Stating the result (16.7)

• If the side batting last wins without losing all its wickets, the result is a win by the number of wickets still to fall.
• If the side fielding last wins, it is a win by runs.
• If the side batting last completes its innings without passing the opposing total, but an award of 5 Penalty runs makes its total sufficient, the result is a win to that side by Penalty runs.
• If one side concedes defeat or refuses to play, the result is Match Conceded or Match Awarded.
• A Tie is when all innings are completed and the scores are equal (16.5.1).

Winning hit (16.6)

• As soon as a result is reached, the match is at an end. Nothing after that counts as part of it, except Penalty runs awarded under Law 41.17.2 up until the umpires leave the field.
• If a boundary is hit before the batters have run enough to win, the whole boundary allowance is credited to the side's total and, for a hit by the bat, to the striker's score.

Agreeing the scores: the scorers and umpires agree runs, wickets and (where appropriate) overs at every interval other than a drinks interval, and at the conclusion of the match (Laws 2.15 and 3.2). Once the umpires have agreed the correctness of the scores with the scorers at the end of the match, the result cannot be changed (16.10).

Mistake found after players and umpires have left the field (16.9): if the umpires discover a scoring mistake that affects the result, and the side batting last has not completed its innings and the overs or the agreed time have not run out, they order play to resume. If the overs have been completed and no playing time remains, or the side batting last has completed its innings, the umpires immediately tell both captains the necessary corrections to the scores and result. This is subject to 16.10.