The Complete Guide to Cricket Run Rates
By Arshi Khan, Founder of Just4Marketing · Last reviewed October 2026
Run rate is the simplest way to read the state of a limited-overs innings: how quickly a side is scoring, what total it is heading for, and how fast a chasing side needs to go. This guide covers the current run rate, required run rate, and projected score, and the one trap that catches most people — converting overs and balls correctly.
The run rate formulas
Current run rate (CRR) = runs scored ÷ overs faced. Required run rate (RRR) = runs still needed ÷ overs remaining. Projected score = runs so far + CRR × overs remaining. In every case overs must be converted from cricket notation, where the figure after the point is balls (0–5), not tenths.
Converting overs and balls
| Cricket notation | Balls | Decimal overs |
|---|---|---|
| 10.1 | 61 | 10.17 |
| 10.2 | 62 | 10.33 |
| 10.3 | 63 | 10.5 |
| 10.4 | 64 | 10.67 |
| 10.5 | 65 | 10.83 |
Reading a chase
Compare CRR with RRR
If the current rate is above the required rate, the chasing side is ahead of the game — as long as it keeps wickets in hand.
Wickets matter as much as runs
A side 100/1 and a side 100/6 have the same run rate but very different chances. The DLS method captures this by valuing wickets as well as overs.
Rain changes the target
If overs are lost, use the DLS calculator for the revised target before working out the required rate.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate run rate with balls, like 25.3 overs?
Convert overs to balls first: 25.3 overs is 25 × 6 + 3 = 153 balls. Run rate = runs ÷ balls × 6. Treating 25.3 as the decimal 25.3 is a common mistake — 3 balls is half an over, so 25.3 overs equals 25.5 in decimal.
What is the required run rate?
It's the runs still needed divided by the overs remaining. A side needing 136 from 24.3 overs (147 balls) requires 136 ÷ 147 × 6 = 5.55 runs per over.
Is the projected score accurate?
It assumes the side keeps scoring at its current rate, which rarely happens: teams usually accelerate at the end of an innings, and losing wickets slows them down. Treat it as a rough guide, not a prediction.
What's a good run rate?
It depends on the format and conditions. In modern one-day internationals, first-innings totals of around 280–320 (about 5.6–6.4 per over) are common on good pitches, while T20 sides often score at 8–9 runs per over.