Question

A man whose bowling average is 12.4 takes 5 wickets for 26 runs and thereby decreases his average by 0.4. The number of wickets, taken by him, before his last match is ___________.

• A. $85$
• B. $78$
• C. $72$
• D. $64$

Answer 1

The correct option is A $85$

The bowling average indicates the number of runs given by a bowler to take a wicket. Let the bowler of 12.4 bowling average has taken $x$ wickets before his last match. So, number of runs conceded by him are $12.4x$.

Number of runs conceded including present match are $12.4x+26$ and total wickets taken are $x+5$ and the new bowling average is $12.4-0.4=12$. To find $x$, $\frac{Numberofrunsconceded}{Numberofwicketstaken}=Bowlingaverage$

$or,\frac{12.4x+26}{x+5}=12$

$or,x=85$

Therefore number of wickets taken by him his last match is $85$