Duckworthlewis Calculator
Our cricket calculator computes duckworth–lewis instantly. Get accurate stats with historical comparisons and benchmarks.
Reviewed for accuracy by Sher, Sports Science & Nutrition Specialist
Duckworthlewis Calculator
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Formula: Revised Target = Team1 Score x (Team2 Resources / Team1 Resources) + 1
Worked example — Team B needs 219 to win from 40 overs (99 more runs from 15 overs, RRR: 6.60)
Formula
Revised Target = Team1 Score x (Team2 Resources / Team1 Resources) + 1
The Duckworth-Lewis method assigns resource percentages based on overs remaining and wickets lost. When an interruption occurs, the resources lost are calculated as the difference between resources before and after the break. The revised target is proportionally scaled by the ratio of resources available to each team.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Standard Rain Interruption
Problem:Team A scores 250 in 50 overs. Team B is 120/3 after 25 overs when rain stops play for an hour and 10 overs are lost. What is the revised target?
Solution:Team A resources: 100% (50 overs, 0 wickets lost). At interruption: 25 overs remaining, 3 wickets down. Resource before interruption (25 overs, 3 wkts) = approx 42.5%. Resource after interruption (15 overs, 3 wkts) = approx 29.8%. Resources lost = 42.5% - 29.8% = 12.7%. Team B total resources = 100% - 12.7% = 87.3%. Revised target = 250 x 0.873 + 1 = 219.
Result:Team B needs 219 to win from 40 overs (99 more runs from 15 overs, RRR: 6.60)
Example 2: First Innings Shortened by Rain
Problem:Rain stops Team A's innings at 35 overs with a score of 200/6. Team B gets a full 35 overs to bat. What is the target?
Solution:Team A resources used: resource(50,0) - resource(15,6) = 100% - 18.5% = 81.5%. Team B resources: resource(35,0) = approx 83.4%. Since Team B has MORE resources (83.4% > 81.5%), runs are added. Extra resources = 83.4% - 81.5% = 1.9%. Extra runs = G50 x 1.9% = 245 x 0.019 = 5 runs. Revised target = 200 + 5 + 1 = 206.
Result:Team B needs 206 to win from 35 overs (RRR: 5.89)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Duckworth-Lewis method in cricket?
The Duckworth-Lewis (DL) method is a mathematical system designed to calculate revised targets in rain-affected limited-overs cricket matches. It was devised by two English statisticians, Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis, and was first adopted by the ICC in 1999. The method is based on the principle that a team has two resources available to score runs: overs remaining and wickets in hand. By quantifying these resources as percentages, the DL method can calculate a fair adjusted target when weather or other interruptions reduce the number of overs available to either team. It ensures that both teams have an equitable chance of winning.
How does the Duckworth-Lewis resource table work?
The DL resource table contains percentage values for every combination of overs remaining (from 0 to 50) and wickets lost (from 0 to 9). Each cell represents the proportion of a team's total scoring potential that remains at that point in the innings. A team starting a full 50-over innings with 10 wickets has 100% resources. As overs pass and wickets fall, the resource percentage decreases. The table shows that losing wickets early costs more resources than losing them late, and losing overs costs more when all wickets are intact. The method uses these percentages to compare what each team had available and calculate proportionally fair targets.
Why was the Duckworth-Lewis method created?
Before the DL method, cricket used simpler but deeply flawed rain rules. The most infamous was the run-rate method, which simply adjusted targets based on scoring rates. This led to absurd situations, most notably the 1992 World Cup semi-final where South Africa needed 22 runs from 13 balls, but after a rain delay, their target was revised to 21 from 1 ball. The most productive overs method was equally problematic because it penalized the chasing team unfairly. Duckworth and Lewis developed their system to address these fundamental flaws by properly accounting for both overs and wickets as scoring resources.
What is the difference between DL and DLS methods?
The original Duckworth-Lewis (DL) method used a fixed set of resource tables that did not change over time. The updated Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, revised by Professor Steven Stern, introduced a dynamic approach where the resource tables and parameters are regularly recalibrated to reflect evolving scoring patterns in modern cricket. The DLS method produces slightly different targets because batsmen now score faster in the death overs than they did in the late 1990s when the original tables were created. The ICC officially transitioned from DL to DLS in 2014 and continues to update the parameters periodically.
Can the DL method handle multiple rain interruptions?
Yes, the Duckworth-Lewis method is specifically designed to handle multiple interruptions during a match. Each interruption is treated as a separate event that removes a calculable amount of resources from the affected team. The resources lost during each interruption are determined by the difference in resource percentages before and after the break, considering the overs lost and wickets down at the time. These individual resource losses are summed to determine the total resources available to the chasing team. The method can handle any number of interruptions in either innings, making it robust for unpredictable weather conditions.
How does the G50 parameter influence DL calculations?
The G50 parameter represents the average score expected in an uninterrupted 50-over innings under current conditions and scoring trends. In the original DL method, this value was fixed, but in the modern DLS version it is regularly updated by the ICC. The G50 value is critical when the chasing team has more resources available than the team that batted first. In such cases, runs are added to the target based on the formula: extra runs = G50 multiplied by the excess resource percentage divided by 100. The current G50 for ODIs is approximately 245, reflecting the increase in average scores over the past two decades of cricket.
What happens if a match is abandoned mid-innings under DL?
If a match is abandoned during the second innings and a result is required, the DL method compares the chasing team's actual score against the par score at the point of abandonment. The par score is calculated based on the resources used by the chasing team up to that point relative to the resources used by the team that batted first. If the chasing team's score equals or exceeds the par score, they are declared the winner. If it is below the par score, the team that batted first wins. For a result to be valid under ICC rules, a minimum number of overs must have been bowled in the second innings, typically at least 20 overs in ODIs.
Is the Duckworth-Lewis method used in T20 cricket?
Yes, the Duckworth-Lewis method (now DLS) is used in T20 international and franchise cricket such as the IPL, Big Bash League, and Caribbean Premier League. The resource tables are adapted for the 20-over format, where the scoring dynamics differ significantly from 50-over cricket. In T20 matches, the loss of even a few overs has a proportionally larger impact on the game compared to ODIs. The DLS method accounts for this by using resource percentages scaled for 20 overs instead of 50. A minimum of 5 overs per side is typically required for a valid result in T20 matches under rain-affected conditions.
What are the common criticisms of the Duckworth-Lewis method?
Critics of the DL method point to several limitations. First, it does not consider pitch conditions or how they might deteriorate during a match, which can significantly affect scoring. Second, it ignores the dew factor, which often makes batting easier under floodlights in the second innings. Third, the method assumes all teams score runs in similar proportional patterns, which may not be true for teams with unconventional batting strategies. Fourth, it does not account for the psychological pressure of chasing revised targets under difficult conditions. Despite these criticisms, no widely accepted alternative has been proposed that is as mathematically rigorous and practically implementable.
How do match officials apply the DL method during a game?
Match officials use dedicated DLS software provided by the ICC to calculate revised targets in real time. The match referee and scorers input the relevant data including the first innings total, the point of interruption, overs lost, and wickets fallen. The software uses the official resource tables and G50 values to compute the revised target and par scores at various stages. Before the match resumes, the revised target is communicated to both teams, the umpires, and the broadcasting team. The software also continuously updates the par score after every ball, so if the match is abandoned later, a result can be determined immediately without additional calculations.
References
Reviewed for accuracy by Sher, Sports Science & Nutrition Specialist · Editorial policy
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