How is the required run rate worked out?

Subtract the current score from the target to find the runs needed, then divide by the overs left. If a team needs 60 runs from 30 balls, that is 60 runs from 5 overs, or 12 runs per over.

What is the target in a run chase?

The target is one run more than the score of the team that batted first. If the first team makes 170, the chasing team needs 171 to win. In a rain-affected match the target may be changed by the DLS method.

What is a projected score?

A projected score estimates the final total if the batting side keeps scoring at a given rate for the rest of the innings. It does not take wickets into account, so treat it as a rough guide.

Cricket tool

Run Rate & Required Run Rate Calculator

Follow a live innings or a run chase. Enter the score and overs to get the current run rate, the runs and balls still needed, the required run rate and a projected final score.

Overs in the innings

Current score (runs)

Overs bowled

Target (if chasing)

Result

Enter the current score and overs bowled. Use cricket notation for overs: 12.4 means 12 overs and 4 balls.

Run rate formulas explained

Run rate = runs scored ÷ overs faced

Required run rate = (target − current score) ÷ overs remaining

The only tricky part is the overs. In cricket, the number after the point counts balls, not tenths. 12.4 overs is 12 overs and 4 balls, which is 12.67 overs as a decimal. That is why this calculator converts everything into balls before dividing.

Example

A team chasing 171 in a T20 match is 95 after 12.4 overs. Its run rate is 95 ÷ 12.67 = 7.50. It needs 76 more runs from the 44 balls left (7.2 overs), so the required run rate is 76 ÷ 7.33 = 10.36 per over.

Comparing teams across a tournament? Try the net run rate calculator. New to the game? Start with our guide to the Laws of Cricket.

Worked example: chasing 180 in a T20

A team needs 180 to win in 20 overs and is 95 for 3 after 12.4 overs. First turn the overs into balls: 12 overs and 4 balls is 76 balls. The current run rate is 95 ÷ 76 × 6 = 7.50 runs per over.

The team needs 180 − 95 = 85 more runs from 120 − 76 = 44 balls. The required run rate is 85 ÷ 44 × 6 = 11.59 runs per over. Because the required rate is well above the current rate, the batting side has to speed up, which is exactly what commentators mean when they say “the asking rate is climbing”.

Run rate, required rate and net run rate

Run rate describes how fast one team is scoring right now. Required run rate describes how fast the chasing team must score from here to win. Net run rate (NRR) is different: it compares how fast a team scores with how fast it concedes across a whole tournament, and it is used to separate teams level on points.

Net run rate calculator · Cricket rules · Play Super Over

Run rate FAQs

Run rate: common questions

Divide the runs scored by the overs faced. Remember that overs use cricket notation: 15.3 overs means 15 overs and 3 balls, which is 15.5 overs. So 120 runs in 15.3 overs is 120 ÷ 15.5 = 7.74 runs per over.