How is the DLS target calculated in cricket?

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What is the DLS Method?

The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method adjusts target scores in rain-affected limited-overs matches.

Key facts

  • Introduced in 1997 by Duckworth & Lewis
  • Updated in 2015 by Steve Stern
  • Used in ODIs and T20s to calculate fair targets when overs are lost

Why is DLS Needed?

  • Reserve days are not feasible for most matches
  • Older methods were unfair and flawed
  • DLS adjusts targets based on wickets and overs left

Formula

  • Team 2’s revised target = Team 1’s score x (Team 2’s resources/Team 1’s resources)
  • It is updated yearly on July 1 to match modern scoring trends

Why Were Older Methods Scrapped?

1. Average Run Rate (ARR) Method

  • Ignored wickets lost, favoring the chasing team
  • Example: A team at 100/9 could still win if rain stopped play

2. Most Productive Overs (MPO) Method

  • Ignored the bowling team’s best overs, favoring the team batting first
  • 1992 World Cup semifinal mistake: South Africa needed 22 off 13 balls, rain stopped play, and the revised target became 21 off 1 ball

How DLS Fixes This

  • Considers both wickets and overs as resources
  • Dynamically adjusts targets based on match data
  • Fairer to both teams than older methods

Example

  • Team 1 scores 300 in 50 overs (100% resources)
  • Team 2 has 30 overs and 7 wickets left (~70% resources)
  • New target = 300 x (70/100) = 210 runs

Other Methods

  • VJD Method: Used in Indian domestic cricket but not recognised by the ICC
  • DL Standard Edition: Outdated, used without computers

Summary

  • DLS is the current ICC method for rain-affected matches
  • It replaced flawed ARR and MPO methods
  • Uses both overs and wickets to adjust targets
  • Updated yearly to reflect modern scoring trends

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