The Manhattan Chart in Cricket Explained
The Manhattan chart shows runs scored in each over of a batting innings as a bar chart — visually mapping the ebb and flow of a knock. It is one of the most widely used graphics in cricket broadcast.
The Manhattan chart is a bar chart displaying the runs scored in each over of a batting innings — over 1 on the left, the final over on the right, with the height of each bar representing how many runs were scored in that over. It is named after the Manhattan skyline because the varying bar heights visually resemble tall buildings. It became a broadcast staple in the early 2000s and is now a standard feature of cricket scorecards and TV overlays.
What does it show?
The Manhattan chart immediately reveals: how the innings accelerated or stalled (a series of low bars followed by high bars shows a slow start and big finish); where wickets fell (a sudden drop from a high bar to zero indicates a wicket cluster); and which overs were most productive (the tallest bars). It gives viewers a narrative of the innings at a glance, without needing to understand numbers in depth.
Manhattan chart vs worm chart
The worm chart shows cumulative runs scored over time — a single line that climbs continuously from zero to the final total, comparing two teams' run rates at every point. The Manhattan shows per-over scoring. Together, they give a complete picture: the worm shows who was ahead at any given moment, while the Manhattan shows which specific overs decided the match.
How to read a Manhattan chart in analysis
Analysts use the Manhattan chart to identify bowling phases, assess economy spells, and locate the damage overs. If a team conceded 18 runs in over 7 and 16 in over 14, those two overs were the match-turning moments — the Manhattan makes this visible immediately. It is particularly useful for comparing a team's powerplay scoring (overs 1–6 bars) against the middle overs (7–15) and death overs (16–20).