NET RUN RATE

Net Run Rate has been playing vital role in deciding the team advancing to next stage in competitions like World cup, T20 World cup, Indian premier league and so on. They are used in T20 and 50-over ODI cricket in the manner similar to goal difference in football(soccer). In simple words its the difference of run rate of a team and the run rate of the opposing team. If a team gets all out before batting for prescribed overs (20 overs in T20 or 50 over in ODI), then the run rate is calculated by dividing the runs scored by whole prescribed overs.

How is net run rate in cricket calculated ? Calculation of Net run rate step by step:

1) First of all get the total runs scored by the team. Wickets are never counted.
2) Get the total overs batted by the team. If teams bat all overs then all 50 or 20 overs are taken. If they are all out then still all 50 or 20 over is taken. In case team batting second, only the overs it batted is taken.
3) Divide the total runs scored by the overs.
4) Net Run Rate for a team is the difference of its total run rate and another teams total run rate in the match. In case of loss, its negative, 0 when a draw and positive when won.
5) In a series, net run rate is the average of rates of the team. Its equal to sum of run rates in each match divided by total matches.

In recent T20 World cup it has been a vital factor. In IPL 2009, Deccan Chargers qualified for the semis though they had same points as Punjab due to better net run rate.