Cricket Run Rate Calculator
Current and required run rates with balls left, done right.
What it does
Run rates divide runs by overs, but cricket overs count base six: 13.4 means 13 overs plus 4 balls (82 balls, 13.667 overs), never the decimal 13.4. Converting through balls first keeps both current and required rates exact.
The tool above takes runs with overs split into wholes plus balls, innings length, and target. It returns the current rate with required rate and balls left beside them.
The default chase of 186 with 118 off 13.4 in a 20 over innings runs 8.63 current with 68 needed from 38 balls: required 10.74. Subtracting 20 minus 13.4 directly would wrongly give 6.6 overs and flatter the chase.
Six ball overs follow MCC Law 17 with ICC playing conditions using the same balls arithmetic. Both define the target as one more than the opposition total, since level scores tie.
How to use
- Enter the runs on the board.
- Enter whole overs with balls 0 to 5 separately.
- Enter the innings length: 20 or 50.
- Enter the target: opposition total plus one.
- Read required first for the chase verdict.
Formula
- x6
- Balls per over converting notation.
- +1
- Target runs one past the opposition.
- left/6
- Remaining overs in true decimals.
Zero balls faced is rejected since no rate exists yet. Finished innings are rejected the same way; completed chases read through the target reached path.
Worked example
Example: 118 off 13.4 chasing 186 in T20
Defaults: 118 runs, 13 overs 4 balls, 20 total, target 186.
- Faced: 13 x 6 + 4 = 82 balls = 13.6667 overs.
- Current: 118 / 13.6667 = 8.63.
- Need: 186 - 118 = 68 from 120 - 82 = 38 balls (6.3333 overs).
- Required: 68 / 6.3333 = 10.74.
- Tool shows 8.63 rpo, 10.74 rpo, 38 balls.
Reference table
| Scoreboard | Means | Decimal overs |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3 | 12 overs 3 balls | 12.5 |
| 13.4 | 13 overs 4 balls | 13.6667 |
| 19.5 | 19 overs 5 balls | 19.8333 |
| 20.0 | All out or done | 20.0 |
Limits
- Limited overs chases only; Tests need session math.
- Wickets in hand ignored in the bare rate.
- Rain rules (DLS) reset targets outside this page.
- All out innings use full quota by rule, unmodeled here.
Common mistakes
- Subtracting 13.4 from 20 directly for overs left.
- Entering the opposition total as the target.
- Reading balls digit past 5 as legal.
- Ignoring wickets when judging chase health.
- Comparing first innings rates with chase rates.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
96 off 12.3 chasing 178 in T20?
75 balls: 7.68 current, 82 off 45: 10.93 required.
Balls in 13.4 overs?
13 x 6 + 4 = 82 balls.
Decimal of 19.5 overs?
19 + 5/6 = 19.8333 overs.
Questions
How do you calculate required run rate?
Runs needed over balls left in overs: 68 from 38 balls is 10.74.
Why not subtract overs directly?
Notation is base 6: 20 minus 13.4 is not 6.6 overs. Convert through balls.
Target or opposition total?
Target is opposition plus one; level scores tie, so chasing 185 means needing 186.
What do wickets change?
Resources and tactics, not the arithmetic. Rates ignore them.
Current vs required?
Current looks back at scoring; required looks ahead at the chase.
What about rain?
DLS resets targets with resource math outside this page.