Net run rate explained
Net run rate (NRR) is the average runs a team scores per over minus the average runs it concedes per over, across all its matches in a tournament. Teams level on points are ranked by NRR, so a bigger win lifts it more than a narrow one.
The formula
NRR = (total runs scored divided by total overs faced) minus (total runs conceded divided by total overs bowled). Overs are counted in decimals of six balls, so 19.3 overs is 19.5 overs in the maths.
Worked example
Team A scores 180 in 20 overs and then restricts Team B to 150 in 20 overs. Team A scored at 9.00 per over and conceded at 7.50 per over, so the match adds +1.50 to its NRR. Over a whole tournament you add all runs and overs first, then divide, rather than averaging the match figures.
The all-out rule
If a team is bowled out before its overs are used up, its full quota of overs is used for the calculation, not the overs it actually faced. Bowling a side out cheaply therefore does not inflate its run rate.
Why NRR matters
NRR is the first tie-breaker in most limited-overs tournaments when teams finish level on points. In a close group, a chase completed with many overs to spare can be worth more than a win that went to the last ball.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate net run rate?
Divide total runs scored by total overs faced, divide total runs conceded by total overs bowled, then subtract the second figure from the first.
Can net run rate be negative?
Yes. A negative NRR means a team has conceded runs faster than it has scored them.
What happens to NRR when a team is all out?
The full allotted overs are used as overs faced, not the overs actually batted.
What happens to NRR in a rain-affected match?
Under DLS the target is adjusted and the revised overs and target are used in the calculation.