Net Run Rate Explained (Formula and Worked Example)
Net run rate explained simply, with the exact NRR formula, a worked example over three matches, the all-out rule, common mistakes and how tie-breakers work.
By The MyGully11 Team
6 min read
Net run rate (NRR) is the rate at which a team scores runs across a tournament, minus the rate at which runs are scored against it. A positive NRR means you score faster than your opponents; a negative one means they score faster than you. It is the most common tie-breaker when teams finish level on points.
The idea is simple, but it is easy to get wrong in a spreadsheet. Here is the exact formula, a full worked example, and the mistakes we see most often in local tournaments.
The net run rate formula
NRR = (total runs scored ÷ total overs faced) − (total runs conceded ÷ total overs bowled)
Two things matter here:
- The totals are added up across all matches first, then divided. You do not average each match's NRR.
- Overs must be converted to proper decimals before dividing. An over has 6 balls, so 7.4 overs (7 overs and 4 balls) is 7 + 4/6 = 7.667 overs, not 7.4.
A quick conversion table:
| Overs as written | Balls | Overs as a decimal |
|---|---|---|
| x.1 | x overs + 1 ball | x.167 |
| x.2 | x overs + 2 balls | x.333 |
| x.3 | x overs + 3 balls | x.5 |
| x.4 | x overs + 4 balls | x.667 |
| x.5 | x overs + 5 balls | x.833 |
The all-out rule
If a team is bowled out before its overs are finished, NRR treats it as if it batted its full quota of overs. So a side all out for 75 in 8.3 overs of a 10-over match counts as 75 runs in 10 overs, not 8.5.
This is the standard rule in ICC playing conditions, and it exists for a good reason: otherwise collapsing quickly would actually help your run rate. The same applies from the other side, so the bowling team is credited with bowling the full quota too.
When a team wins a chase early, the rule does not apply. Only the overs actually faced count, which is why finishing a chase quickly boosts NRR.
A worked example over three matches
Team Rising Stars play three matches in a 10-over tournament.
Match 1: Rising Stars bat first and make 92/6 in 10 overs. Their opponents reply with 80/8 in 10 overs. Rising Stars win.
Match 2: Rising Stars are bowled out for 75 in 8.3 overs. Their opponents chase it down, 76/4 in 9.2 overs. Rising Stars lose.
Match 3: The opponents bat first and make 70/9 in 10 overs. Rising Stars chase it, 71/3 in 7.4 overs. Rising Stars win.
Now build the two totals.
| Match | Runs scored | Overs faced | Runs conceded / overs bowled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 92 | 10 | 80 in 10 |
| 2 | 75 | 10 (all out, full quota) | 76 in 9.333 (9.2) |
| 3 | 71 | 7.667 (7.4) | 70 in 10 |
| Total | 238 | 27.667 | 226 in 29.333 |
Runs-for rate: 238 ÷ 27.667 = 8.602
Runs-against rate: 226 ÷ 29.333 = 7.705
NRR = 8.602 − 7.705 = +0.898
Rising Stars score about 0.9 runs an over faster than the teams they play. Notice that in Match 2 we used 10 overs, not 8.3, because they were all out. Also notice the bowling side: Rising Stars' opponents in Match 2 faced only 9.2 overs, because they won the chase, so that is what goes into the overs bowled.
Tip: Keep two running totals per team, runs and balls, rather than runs and overs. Divide balls by 6 only at the end and you will never get the decimal wrong.
Common mistakes
Averaging each match's NRR
It is tempting to work out an NRR for each game and average them. For Rising Stars, the three per-match figures are +1.200, −0.643 and +2.261, which average to +0.939. The correct answer is +0.898. The difference is small here, but in a tight group it can change who goes through.
Treating 8.3 overs as 8.3
Overs are not decimals. Writing 7.4 instead of 7.667 for the Match 3 chase pushes Rising Stars' NRR up to about +0.982, which is wrong.
Forgetting the all-out rule
If you use 8.3 overs (8.5 as a decimal) for Rising Stars' Match 2 innings instead of the full 10, their NRR jumps to about +1.391. Getting bowled out would be rewarded, which is exactly what the rule prevents.
Including abandoned matches
A match with no result does not count towards NRR at all. Leave its runs and overs out of both totals, even if one innings was completed.
Rain-reduced matches
When overs are cut and a revised target is set, the calculation uses the revised overs rather than the original quota. Under ICC conditions, in a match decided by DLS the team batting first is treated as having scored the revised target minus one in the revised overs. Most local tournaments simply agree this in advance or let the scoring app handle it.
Where NRR sits among tie-breakers
NRR is only used when teams are level on points. Your tournament should publish its tie-break order before the first ball. A common order for local cricket is:
- Points
- Number of wins
- Net run rate
- Head-to-head result between the tied teams
- A super over, coin toss or drawing of lots as a last resort
Professional competitions vary this order, so do not assume. Write it in your rules sheet; our guide on how to organise a gully cricket tournament has a template, and cricket tournament formats explains when group ties are most likely.
Let the points table do the maths
Calculating NRR by hand after every match is where volunteer organisers usually make mistakes, especially with all-out innings and part-overs. In MyGully11 the ball-by-ball scorer records every delivery, even offline, and the points table, standings and net run rate update themselves after each match. Nobody has to open a spreadsheet at 10 pm to work out who made the semi-final.
See how standings work on our cricket tournament leaderboard app page, or brush up on the basics with how to score a cricket match.
Frequently asked questions
How is net run rate calculated in cricket?
Add up all the runs a team has scored and divide by all the overs it has faced. Do the same for runs conceded and overs bowled. NRR is the first figure minus the second.
What happens to net run rate if a team is all out?
The team is treated as having faced its full quota of overs. A side all out for 75 in 8.3 overs of a 10-over game counts as 75 runs in 10 overs.
How do you convert overs like 7.4 for NRR?
Divide the balls by 6. Seven overs and four balls is 7 + 4/6 = 7.667 overs. Never use 7.4 directly.
Can net run rate be negative?
Yes. A negative NRR means opponents have scored faster against a team than it has scored itself. A team can still qualify with a negative NRR if it has enough points.
Do abandoned matches count towards NRR?
No. A match with no result is left out of the NRR calculation completely, though teams usually get points for it under the tournament rules.