QUICK ANSWER
Net run rate (NRR) measures how quickly a team scores compared with how quickly its opponents score against it. It’s the team’s runs per over minus the runs per over it concedes. It’s used to separate teams that finish level on points in tournaments.
The formula
NRR = (total runs scored ÷ total overs faced) − (total runs conceded ÷ total overs bowled)
These totals are added up across all matches in the tournament so far, not averaged match by match.
A simple worked example
Say a team plays two 20-over matches:
| Runs scored | Overs faced | Runs conceded | Overs bowled | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match 1 | 180 | 20 | 160 | 20 |
| Match 2 | 150 | 20 | 155 | 20 |
| Total | 330 | 40 | 315 | 40 |
Runs per over scored: 330 ÷ 40 = 8.25. Runs per over conceded: 315 ÷ 40 = 7.875. NRR = 8.25 − 7.875 = +0.375.
The rules that trip people up
- All out counts as full overs: if a team is bowled out early, it’s treated as having faced its full quota of overs.
- Overs use balls, not decimals: 19.3 overs means 19 overs and 3 balls, which is 19.5 overs in the calculation.
- Rain-shortened matches use the revised overs and targets set for that game.
Why it matters
Late in a tournament, teams often need not just to win but to win by a certain margin or chase a target within a certain number of overs, to lift their NRR above a rival’s.
Frequently asked questions
Is a positive NRR good?
Yes. It means the team scores faster than its opponents on average.
Does NRR count abandoned matches?
Matches with no result are usually left out of the NRR calculation.
Why can a big win barely move NRR late on?
Because NRR uses totals from every match, each new game makes up a smaller share as the tournament goes on.
Sources
- International Cricket Council (ICC): playing conditions