How it works
Late in a league, the question is rarely just “do we win?” It is “how much do we need to win by?” This calculator adds one more match to your team’s For and Against totals and solves for the margin that lifts your net run rate above the number you need to beat.
- Batting first: your innings counts as the full quota of overs, because a team either bats them out or is bowled out and charged the full quota anyway. The calculator finds the highest score you can let the opposition reach.
- Chasing: the opposition innings counts as the full quota, and you finish on exactly the target. The calculator finds the last ball by which you must get there.
The table shows your NRR after a few nearby results, so you can see how quickly the picture changes.
The formula
new NRR = (runs for + runs this match) ÷ (overs for + overs faced this match)
− (runs against + their runs) ÷ (overs against + overs bowled this match)
Batting first on S: find the highest opponent score c with new NRR > target
Chasing T: find the fewest overs b with new NRR > targetWorked example
Your team has 1260 runs off 148.2 overs and has conceded 1225 off 150 overs, an NRR of +0.328. A rival sits on +0.500. You bat first in a T20 and make 180.
- After the match your runs for are 1260 + 180 = 1440 off 168.333 overs, a rate of 8.554.
- To finish above +0.500, your runs against rate must stay under 8.554 − 0.500 = 8.054.
- Over 170 overs that allows 8.054 × 170 = 1369.3 runs, so the opponent can make at most 1369 − 1225 = 144.
- Restrict them to 144 or fewer, a win by 36 runs or more.
Chasing 171 instead, you would need to get there within 16 overs.
Questions
What if my rival also plays before the table is final?
Their NRR will move too, so the number to beat changes. Run the calculator again with their new figure, or try a range of values to see what you need in different cases.
Why does the chase assume I finish exactly on the target?
It gives the cautious answer. Finishing with a boundary that takes you past the target adds a few runs and slightly improves your NRR, so the real margin needed can be a ball or so less.
Why is my batting innings always counted as the full overs?
When you bat first you either use all your overs or get bowled out, and a bowled-out side is charged the full quota. Either way, your overs faced go up by the full amount.
Does this work for ODIs and other formats?
Yes. Choose ODI for 50 overs, or Other for any overs per innings. The math is the same for every limited-overs format that uses net run rate.
Where do I find the For and Against figures?
Most points tables list them next to NRR, written as runs and overs, such as 1260/148.2. If you only know individual scores, the net run rate calculator adds them up match by match.
Add this calculator to your site
Cricket club, league or blog? You can put this calculator on your own site for free. Copy the code below into your page’s HTML. The calculator updates itself whenever we improve it.
The short script lets the frame grow to fit the calculator on your page. Please keep the credit line underneath it.