Last updated: 3 October 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
Run rate is runs scored divided by overs faced — the headline measure of scoring speed in limited-overs cricket. Overs are counted in a base-six system (18.3 means 18 overs and 3 balls), which must be converted correctly for the maths. A run rate of 6 per over over 50 overs projects to 300. The required run rate, by contrast, is what a chasing team needs from the overs remaining.
- Runs ÷ overs faced
- Headline scoring-speed measure
- Overs use base-six (18.3 = 18 overs, 3 balls)
- Required run rate is for chasing teams
In practice
Run rate (average runs scored per over) gives commentators and players a quick ongoing measure of scoring pace throughout a cricket innings, and the gap between the current run rate and the required run rate (in a run chase) is one of the most closely watched numbers in limited-overs cricket, since it directly indicates whether the chasing team is on track, ahead, or falling behind the pace needed to win.
FAQ
How is run rate calculated in cricket?
Total runs scored divided by the number of overs faced (or bowled), giving an average runs-per-over figure used to track scoring pace throughout an innings.
What's the difference between current run rate and required run rate?
Current run rate reflects the actual scoring pace so far; required run rate (relevant when chasing a target) is the pace needed for the remaining overs to reach the target, and the gap between the two indicates how the chase is progressing.