The DLS method, explained
The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, or DLS, sets a fair target when rain or bad light shortens a limited-overs match. It is used in ODIs, T20s and most professional leagues.
The big idea: resources
A batting team has two resources: overs left and wickets in hand. Losing overs hurts less if you have lost many wickets. Losing overs hurts more if you have wickets to spare. DLS turns every combination of overs and wickets into a percentage of resources remaining.
The key points
- A full innings with all ten wickets is 100% of resources.
- When overs are lost, DLS works out how much resource each team lost.
- The team with fewer resources gets a lower target, and the reverse.
When the chasing team loses overs
If the second team has fewer resources than the first, its target is scaled down in proportion.
Par score = first team's score × (second team's resources ÷ first team's resources). The target is the par score rounded down, plus one run.
For example, suppose a team makes 250 using 100% of its resources. The chase is cut, leaving the second team 80% of resources. Their par score is 200, so they need 201 to win.
When the first team loses overs
If the first innings is cut short, the second team may end up with more resources. In that case its target goes up, using a standard average score in the calculation. This is why targets are sometimes higher than the first team's score.
Par scores during the chase
You often see a "DLS par score" on screen during a chase. It shows the score the chasing team needs at that moment to be ahead if play stops for good.
Why there is no DLS calculator here
Official matches use the Professional Edition of DLS. Its resource tables are built into licensed software, and simple public tables give different numbers. We would rather explain the method than show you a target that might be wrong.
Why the old methods failed
Before DLS, rain rules often used run rate or dropped a team's least productive overs. These ignored wickets in hand, and some gave silly results. The most famous came at the 1992 World Cup semi-final, when a brief shower left South Africa needing 22 runs from one ball.
A short history
- 1997: the Duckworth-Lewis method was first used in international cricket.
- 1999: the ICC adopted it as the standard method.
- 2014: statistician Steven Stern updated it for higher modern scores, and it became Duckworth-Lewis-Stern.
An example with wickets
Two chasing teams have both used 30 of their 50 overs when rain ends play. One has lost 2 wickets, and the other has lost 7. The team with 8 wickets in hand still has much more resource left, because it could have attacked freely. So it needs a higher par score at that moment to be declared the winner.
Tips for following a DLS chase
- Watch the par score, not just the target. It changes after every ball and every wicket.
- A wicket makes the par score jump up, because the chasing team loses resources.
- If rain is forecast, chasing teams often bat to stay ahead of par rather than pacing for the full overs.
Frequently asked questions
What does DLS stand for?
It stands for Duckworth-Lewis-Stern, after statisticians Frank Duckworth, Tony Lewis and Steven Stern.
How many overs are needed for a DLS result?
In most ODIs each side must face at least 20 overs. In T20s it is usually five overs. Competitions can set their own minimums.
Why can a DLS target be higher than the first team's score?
If the first innings was cut short, the chasing team may have more resources. DLS then raises its target to keep things fair.
Who calculates the DLS target?
The match officials use official DLS software. The result is announced to both teams and the public.
Is DLS used in Test cricket?
No. Test matches have no overs limit to reset, so time lost to rain simply makes a draw more likely.