DLS Method in Cricket Explained With Examples
If you are asking what is DLS method in cricket, the short answer is this: it is the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern formula that match officials use to set a fair revised target when rain or bad light cuts overs in an ODI or T20 match. Instead of looking only at run rate, it looks at the two resources a batting side has, overs left and wickets in hand. This guide explains the idea in plain words and walks through easy examples.
PK Portals is an independent information site and is not linked to the ICC, the PCB or the creators of the DLS method. The examples below use the published Standard Edition figures to show how the method works; international matches use the ICC’s Professional Edition software, so real targets can differ slightly.
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method |
| Created by | English statisticians Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis |
| First used in internationals | 1 January 1997, Zimbabwe v England ODI |
| Adopted by the ICC | 1999 |
| Renamed DLS | November 2014, after Steven Stern updated the model |
| Used in | Rain-affected ODIs, T20Is and leagues such as the PSL and IPL |
| Minimum overs for a result | 20 overs per side in ODIs, 5 overs per side in T20Is |
| Key idea | Resources = overs remaining + wickets in hand |
What is DLS method in cricket and why it is used
When overs are lost, simply scaling the target by run rate is unfair. A chasing side that keeps all ten wickets can attack hard in fewer overs, so a plain run-rate target usually favours the team batting second. Older systems tried other shortcuts. The Most Productive Overs rule used at the 1992 World Cup became famous after the semi-final, when South Africa’s requirement went from 22 runs off 13 balls to an impossible 21 runs off one ball after a short rain break.
Duckworth and Lewis built a model from real match data to fix this. It was first used in an international match in January 1997 and adopted by the ICC in 1999. After both men retired, statistician Steven Stern became its custodian and updated it for modern scoring rates, which is why it has been called DLS since November 2014.
Resources: the core idea behind DLS
DLS treats a full 50-over innings with all 10 wickets as 100% resources. As overs are used and wickets fall, resources drop. Losing wickets matters a lot: a side with many overs left but few wickets cannot use those overs fully. The table below shows a few values from the published Standard Edition table for 50-over cricket.
| Overs left | 0 wickets lost | 2 lost | 4 lost | 6 lost | 8 lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 100.0% | 85.1% | 62.7% | 34.9% | 11.9% |
| 30 | 75.1% | 67.3% | 54.1% | 33.6% | 11.9% |
| 20 | 56.6% | 52.4% | 44.6% | 30.8% | 11.9% |
| 10 | 32.1% | 30.8% | 28.3% | 22.8% | 11.4% |
| 5 | 17.2% | 16.8% | 16.1% | 14.3% | 9.4% |
Notice that with 8 wickets down, having 50 or 20 overs left makes almost no difference, because the batting side is likely to be bowled out anyway.
How the revised target is calculated
- Work out R1, the resources the first team had (100% if they batted their full overs without interruption).
- Work out R2, the resources the second team has after overs are lost.
- If R2 is smaller than R1, the par score is the first team’s total multiplied by R2 divided by R1.
- Drop the decimals to get the par score. Scores level with par means a tie, and par plus one is the target to win.
- If R2 is bigger than R1 (for example when the first innings was cut short), the target is raised. In the Professional Edition used in internationals, it rises in proportion to the extra resources.
DLS method examples step by step
Example 1: chase shortened before it starts
Team A scores 250 in a full 50 overs, so R1 is 100%. Rain arrives and Team B is given only 30 overs. With 30 overs left and no wickets lost, R2 is 75.1%. Par = 250 x 75.1 / 100 = 187.75, so the par score is 187. Team B needs 188 in 30 overs to win, and 187 would tie the match.
Example 2: rain during the chase
Team B is chasing 251 and is 100 for 2 after 20 overs. At that point 30 overs remain with 2 wickets lost, worth 67.3%. Rain removes 10 overs, so when play restarts there are 20 overs left with 2 wickets lost, worth 52.4%. Team B has lost 67.3 – 52.4 = 14.9% of resources, so R2 = 85.1%. Par = 250 x 85.1 / 100 = 212.75. The new target is 213 in 40 overs, meaning 113 more runs from the last 20 overs.
Example 3: no more play after the minimum overs
If rain ends the same match at 100 for 2 after 20 overs, Team B has used 100 – 67.3 = 32.7% of its resources. Par at that moment = 250 x 32.7 / 100 = 81.75, so par is 81. Team B is 19 runs ahead and wins by 19 runs on DLS. Because 20 overs have been bowled, the minimum for an ODI result has been reached.
Real match: Pakistan v New Zealand, 2023 World Cup
In Bengaluru on 4 November 2023, New Zealand made 401 for 6. After a rain break Pakistan’s target was revised to 342 in 41 overs. When rain stopped play for good, Pakistan were 200 for 1 after 25.3 overs, with Fakhar Zaman 126 not out, and they were 21 runs ahead of the DLS par score. Pakistan won by 21 runs (DLS).
DLS rules for ODI and T20 matches
- ODIs: each side must be able to face at least 20 overs for a result, unless a side is bowled out or reaches its target sooner.
- T20Is: the minimum is 5 overs per side, with the same exceptions.
- If the minimum cannot be played, the match ends as a no result.
- In rain-threatened chases, the scoreboard often shows the live DLS par score so both captains know who is ahead.
- The DLS calculation is done by the match officials using ICC-approved software, not by the teams.
Common questions and criticism
DLS is not perfect. Critics say it puts heavy weight on wickets, which can push a chasing team to bat cautiously early, and some feel it suits 50-over cricket better than T20, where one big over can change a game. The Professional Edition figures are not public, so fans cannot check targets exactly. A famous lesson came at the 2003 World Cup, when South Africa misread the par sheet against Sri Lanka and finished level on the par score, so the match was tied instead of won. Still, DLS remains the accepted standard in international cricket.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does DLS stand for in cricket?
DLS stands for Duckworth-Lewis-Stern, named after Frank Duckworth, Tony Lewis and Steven Stern, who created and later updated the method.
What is a par score in DLS?
The par score is the runs a chasing side should have at a given point, based on the resources it has used. Level with par is a tie, and more than par is a win if no further play is possible.
How many overs are needed for a result under DLS?
At least 20 overs per side in ODIs and at least 5 overs per side in T20Is, unless a team is bowled out or reaches its target earlier.
Can the DLS target be higher than the first innings score?
Yes. If the first innings was cut short and the second side gets more resources, the target can be set above the first team’s total.
Is DLS used in the PSL and IPL?
Yes. Rain-affected matches in these leagues are decided using the DLS method under their playing conditions.
Who calculates the DLS target during a match?
The match officials calculate it with ICC-approved DLS software and share the revised target and par scores with both teams.
Last updated: 18 October 2026. Playing conditions and DLS software are updated from time to time, so check the official match conditions for any specific tournament.
