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What is the DLS Method?
The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method is the standard mathematical formula used in cricket to calculate revised targets in rain-interrupted limited-overs matches. When rain or other interruptions reduce the number of overs available to one or both teams, the DLS method adjusts the target score to ensure fairness. It replaced older methods like average run rate, which often produced unfair results.
The method was originally devised by statisticians Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis in 1998 and later updated by Professor Steven Stern. The ICC adopted it as the official method for all international limited-overs cricket. The core principle is that a team has two resources: overs remaining and wickets in hand.
How DLS Works
Each combination of overs remaining and wickets in hand corresponds to a resource percentage. A team at the start of a 50-over innings with all 10 wickets has 100% resources. As overs are bowled and wickets fall, resources decline. The method compares the resources available to each team to produce a fair adjusted target.
Resource Percentage Table (Simplified)
| Overs Left | 0 wkts lost | 2 wkts lost | 5 wkts lost | 8 wkts lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 100.0% | 83.8% | 49.5% | 14.9% |
| 40 | 90.3% | 78.4% | 48.0% | 14.8% |
| 30 | 77.1% | 69.6% | 45.1% | 14.5% |
| 20 | 58.9% | 55.5% | 39.3% | 13.8% |
| 10 | 34.1% | 33.2% | 27.5% | 11.4% |
History and Evolution
- 1992: The infamous South Africa vs England World Cup semi-final showed the flaws of the "most productive overs" method.
- 1997: Duckworth and Lewis published their original paper.
- 1999: ICC officially adopted the D/L method for ODIs.
- 2014: Steven Stern updated the method, now called DLS (Duckworth-Lewis-Stern).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this calculator exact?
This calculator uses a simplified version of the DLS Standard Edition resource table. The actual Professional Edition used by the ICC includes proprietary data and more complex calculations. This tool provides a close approximation suitable for understanding and recreational use.
Why does losing wickets reduce the target so much?
Wickets represent a team's ability to score in remaining overs. A team with 30 overs and 0 wickets lost can bat aggressively, while the same team with 5 wickets lost must be cautious. The DLS method accounts for this by assigning lower resource percentages when more wickets have fallen.
Can the revised target be higher than the original?
Yes, in rare cases. If Team 2 had more resources at the time of interruption than Team 1 had in total (e.g., Team 1's innings was also shortened), the revised target can exceed what Team 1 actually scored.