Run Chase and Required Run Rate
Also known as: run chase, chasing a target, required run rate, asking rate, required rate in cricket, pacing a run chase, run rate in cricket
In a run chase, the required run rate is the runs you still need divided by the overs left. To pace a chase, break it into small targets, keep wickets in hand and avoid long runs of dot balls. Plan to attack harder when you have batters to come and fewer overs left.
Run rate is runs per over. To work out the required rate, divide the runs needed by the overs remaining. Needing 60 off 8 overs means 7.5 an over. Count balls carefully. On a scoreboard, 12.3 overs means 12 overs and 3 balls, not 12 and a half. With 30 balls left, divide the runs needed by 5.
Good chasers think in blocks of overs. They set targets like 40 off the next 5 overs, then reassess. Singles and twos keep the rate in check without big risks. A boundary an over plus regular singles adds up quickly. Wickets in hand give freedom. A side with plenty of batters left can attack late. A side with few left needs to keep one set batter in.
The biggest danger is letting the rate climb with dot balls, then trying to catch up with risky shots. Another is losing wickets in clusters. Watch which bowlers have overs left and plan to attack the weaker ones. Talk with your partner every over about the target and the plan.
Tips by skill level
In practice matches, set small targets such as 15 runs off the next 2 overs. Check the scoreboard at the end of each over.
Plan the chase around wickets in hand and the bowlers still to bowl. Decide in advance which overs you will attack.
Example
Chasing 160 in a T20, the team needs 52 off the last 5 overs with six wickets left. That is just over 10 an over. The batters plan to target the spinner's last over and run hard for twos.
Why it matters
A chase is a maths problem as well as a batting one. Keeping the target clear helps you choose the right risk on every ball.
Common mistakes
- Reading 12.3 overs as 12 and a half overs
- Letting the required rate climb with too many dot balls
- Losing wickets in clusters while trying to catch up
- Not knowing which bowlers have overs left
Frequently asked questions
How do I pace a run chase in cricket?
Break the target into small blocks, such as runs needed every 5 overs. Keep the scoreboard moving with singles and look for one boundary an over. Keep wickets in hand so you can attack at the end.
How do you work out the required run rate?
Divide the runs you need by the overs left. Count the balls carefully: 12.3 overs means 12 overs and 3 balls. Needing 60 off 8 overs is a required rate of 7.5.
What is the asking rate in cricket?
The asking rate is another name for the required run rate. It is the number of runs per over the batting side needs to reach its target.
Related terms
- T20 Batting ApproachT20 batting means scoring quickly from the first ball while keeping enough wickets for the end. Attack the gaps in the six-over powerplay, rotate the strike and pick off bad balls in the middle overs, and save the biggest hitting for the death. Know your best scoring areas and which bowlers you want to target.
- One-Day International (ODI)A one-day international is an international match where each team bats once, for up to 50 overs. Each bowler can bowl no more than 10 overs. The fielding side is limited to two fielders outside the 30-yard circle in overs 1 to 10, four in overs 11 to 40 and five in overs 41 to 50. A tie is settled by a Super Over.
- Death OversThe death overs are the final overs of a limited-overs innings, usually overs 17–20 in T20 or 41–50 in one-day cricket. Batters chase runs and bowlers try to limit them.
- Batting IntentBatting intent means looking to score off every ball you can, instead of waiting for the bowler to make a mistake. It shows in your footwork, your trigger and your readiness to run. Intent is not the same as slogging. A clear leave or a firm defensive shot can still show intent.
- Finding Gaps in the FieldTo find gaps, look at the field before every ball and pick the space you will aim for. Then use the angle of the bat face and soft or firm hands to place the ball there. Hit along the ground into the space between fielders and run hard for the single.
- Building an InningsBuild an innings in stages. Spend your first balls getting used to the pace and bounce, scoring mainly from singles and bad balls. Once you are set, widen your scoring shots and push the rate. After a milestone, reset and start again instead of relaxing.
Cricket analysis is in development
Motion Lab does not analyze this sport yet. Keep exploring the terms in this section.