Decode rain-affected cricket matches with the CalcGami Duckworth-Lewis Calculator. Instantly calculate the Revised Target and Par Score based on the DLS method. Save match scenarios and share targets with your team via WhatsApp.
Revised Match Target
Target to Win
0
Need X runs in Y overs
Par Score (Tie)
0
Required Run Rate
0.00
* Uses the Standard Edition Resource Percentage approximation. Official matches use professional software with real-time data.
Saved Calculations
| Date | T1 Score | Overs | Target |
|---|
Related Calculators
Table of Contents
What is a Duckworth-Lewis Calculator?
A Duckworth-Lewis Calculator (often referred to as the DLS Calculator) is a sophisticated cricket analytics tool used to calculate a revised winning target in limited-overs matches (ODIs and T20s) that have been interrupted by rain or bad light.
Cricket is unique because the game conditions change drastically if time is lost. Simply reducing the target based on the “Average Run Rate” is unfair because a team with 10 wickets in hand can score much faster than a team with 2 wickets in hand. The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method addresses this by calculating the “Resources” (Overs left + Wickets left) available to both teams. This Duckworth-Lewis Calculator processes the complex tables and formulas to determine the Par Score (the score a team should be at to be considered “even”) and the Revised Target (the final score needed to win). It includes History to track shifting targets, Save Calculation to store specific rain delays, and WhatsApp Share to send the new target to friends or teammates instantly.
Benefits of Using a Duckworth-Lewis Calculator
The DLS method is the gold standard for fairness in cricket. Using this Duckworth-Lewis Calculator tool provides clarity in chaotic match situations:
- Par Score Tracking: It tells you exactly where the chasing team needs to be at the end of the current over to win if the match is stopped immediately by rain.
- Target Revision: If 10 overs are lost, the target isn’t just reduced proportionally; it is adjusted based on how many wickets the batting team has lost. This Duckworth-Lewis Calculator tool handles that complex adjustment.
- Strategic Batting: Captains use it to pace the innings. “We are 5 runs behind the DLS par score; we need a boundary this over.”
- Scenario Planning: Use Save Calculation to run “What If” scenarios. “What if we lose 2 wickets and rain comes at 30 overs?” saving these scenarios helps in decision-making.
- Fan Engagement: Use WhatsApp Share to settle debates in your cricket group chat about who is actually winning during a rain delay.
Formula Used in Duckworth-Lewis Calculator
The DLS method uses a mathematical concept called “Resources.” Each team starts with 100% resources (50 overs and 10 wickets). As overs pass or wickets fall, the resource percentage drops based on statistical tables derived from thousands of historical matches.
The Variables:
- S: Team 1’s Total Score.
- R1: Team 1’s Resources available (%).
- R2: Team 2’s Resources available (%).
- G50: The average score expected from 50 overs (Usually 245 in ODIs).
The Plain Text Logic:
1. If Team 2 has fewer resources (R2 < R1):
This happens when rain shortens the second innings.
- Target = (S x R2 / R1) + 1
2. If Team 2 has more resources (R2 > R1):
This happens if rain interrupted the first innings, but the second innings has full overs.
- Target = S + (G50 x (R2 – R1) / 100) + 1
Note: The Duckworth-Lewis Calculator uses an internal lookup table to find the value of “R” based on the exact number of overs remaining and wickets lost.
How to Use the Duckworth-Lewis Calculator
Follow these steps to find the target:
- Select Match Format: Choose ODI (50 overs) or T20 (20 overs).
- Enter Team 1 Details: Input the total runs scored and overs batted.
- Enter Interruption Details:
- Score at time of interruption.
- Wickets lost at interruption.
- Overs lost due to rain.
- Calculate: Click the button to process the resource reduction.
- Review Results:
- Revised Target: The score needed to win.
- Par Score: The score required to tie.
- Use Productivity Features:
- History: See how the target changed after the last rain break.
- Save Calculation: Name it “Match 3 – Rain Break.”
- Share on WhatsApp: Send the target: “Team B needs 145 runs in 20 overs to win.”
Real-Life Example
Scenario:
In an ODI, Team A scores 250 in their full 50 overs.
Team B comes out to bat. At 20 overs, they are 80 for 2 wickets.
Suddenly, rain stops play. 10 overs are lost. The match is now reduced to 40 overs for Team B.
The Calculation Logic:
Step 1: Calculate Team 1 Resources
Team A used 50 overs and had 10 wickets. They used 100% of their resources.
Step 2: Calculate Team 2 Resources
Team B started with 100%. However, they lost 10 overs.
According to DLS tables, losing overs 21-30 while 2 wickets are down reduces resources by roughly 18%.
Team B now has approx 82% resources available.
Step 3: Calculate Ratio
Ratio = Team B Resources / Team A Resources
Ratio = 82 / 100 = 0.82
Step 4: Calculate Revised Target
Target = (Team A Score x Ratio) + 1
Target = (250 x 0.82) + 1
Target = 205 + 1 = 206.
The Result:
Team B’s revised target is 206 runs in 40 overs.
- Action: The fan calculates this, saves it, and shares it via WhatsApp: “Target revised to 206. We need 126 runs in the remaining 20 overs.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the difference between D/L and DLS?
D/L (Duckworth-Lewis): The original method invented in 1997.
DLS (Duckworth-Lewis-Stern): The updated version introduced in 2014. Professor Steven Stern updated the formula to account for modern high-scoring matches where teams score heavily in the final overs. Most modern calculators use DLS.
Why isn’t Average Run Rate used?
Average Run Rate (ARR) is flawed. If Team A scores 300 in 50 overs (6 runs/over), asking Team B to score 60 in 10 overs is unfair. Team B has 10 wickets for just 10 overs, so they could easily score 100+. DLS accounts for this “wicket advantage” and sets a higher target.
What is the “Par Score”?
The Par Score is the score a team should have on the board at a specific ball to be considered “level” with the opposition. If play is abandoned permanently, the team ahead of the Par Score wins.
Does the calculator work for T20?
Yes. The resource tables are adjusted for the 20-over format. Resources deplete much faster in T20s because every ball is a higher percentage of the total game.
Why does the target sometimes increase?
If Team 1 is interrupted by rain (e.g., they lose overs 40-50), they are denied the chance to score rapidly at the death. DLS calculates that they would have scored more. Therefore, Team 2’s target is increased (e.g., Team 1 made 200, but the Target is 215) to compensate for Team 1’s lost opportunity.
Is the output official?
Online calculators use the Standard Edition tables. International matches use the Professional Edition (software-based), which is slightly more precise. The result will be 99% accurate but may differ by 1 or 2 runs from the TV broadcast.