What is DLS Method in cricket: Did you watch the recent Asia cup 2023, which was ruined due to rain. Most of the Asia cup matches were played in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The weather condition in Sri Lanka was rainy and many matches that were held in Colombo were ruined due to rain.
The DLS method was used in almost every match of the Asia cup that was played in colombo. Only a few Asia cup matches were completed without DLS. The biggest match that was ruined due to rain in the Asia cup was India vs Pakistan.
Two matches were played between Pakistan and India in the Asia cup. In Both matches DLS was implemented due to weather conditions. After watching these matches I am sure that a question came to your mind, how DLS is calculated.
In this article We will discuss what is DLS method in cricket and how to calculate dls in cricket. If you are searching about DLS you are in the right place, keep reading this article till the end to know complete details about DLS.
What is DLS in Cricket?
The full form of DLS is (Duckworth-Lewis-Stern) a method used to calculate the target score when rain interrupts matches. It is a mathematical calculation made by the cricket experts and management of the match to project the target score for an interrupted match.
The DLS method plays an important role for deciding the result of a match in limited overs cricket. This method is used to calculate the target score for the chasing team.
History Of DLS In Cricket
The duckworth lewis stern method name is based on the name of three mathematicians. Firstly its name was duckworth lewis method, then in 2014 stern was also added in the name.
This Idea was announced by two mathematicians Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis. Cricket is the game in which, if rain starts then the match needs to stop. There is no option available instead of a match stop, if it starts raining.
Due to rain time loss is the main reason, to overcome this time loss many times over for the match have been deducted and some time the match has been cancelled. In that case we needed a method that would announce fair results for both teams, and that method was the DLS method.
Before the DLS there were many methods to modify the target. For example Average run rate method, the most productive over method etc, but there were many flaws in these methods.
The biggest flaws were there was no role of wickets in these, either the team had 1 wicket or 10 wickets in hand, results were announced on the basis of runs which was not fair. But at that time that was the rules, DLS was introduced later.
Example of Old rules
The Semi final match of 1992 world cup was played between England vs South Africa. South Africa needed 22 runs in 13 balls in the second inning to win the Semi final. The match was intercepted and stopped for 12 minutes due to rain.
In that case the decision was made by modifying the target with the help of the most productive over method, that South Africa needed 22 runs in 1 ball, which was clearly unfair for Africa.
How DLS method work?
Previous methods were simple, DLS is not that simple. The modification of the target depends on which over or inning the match is stopped. DLS works on the available resources for the team.
Resources means the capacity of a team to score runs. The two resources are balls and wickets. If there are more wickets in hand, that means the score will be higher. Same for the over, if there are more overs remaining, the chances of higher score increases.
The meaning of 100% resources is that, In one day 10 wickets for 50 overs. It is very simple that if a team have 100% resources remaining that means, it has 50 overs or 10 wickets in hand.
How to Calculate DLS?
If the match stopped due to rain, the target modification depends on the team’s previous performance. If the team had played a few overs and few wickets were also gone, then the thing needed to see how much resources were available.
The percentage of resources is calculated with the help of a table, that table is fixed and already defined. This table is available in a computer, the total score needed to put in a computer, and the computer will calculate the available resources percentage and the new target for the second team.
For example: A match stopped in the second innings, when there are 40 overs remaining and the team has 8 wickets in hand. Now the total percentage of resources available for the second team will be 77.6%. The DLS method is used to project new targets on the basis of that percentage.
Formula to Calculate DLS: Team 2’s par score= Team1’s score (Team2’s resources/team1’2 resources).
What is Par Score
The term par score used in cricket and to calculate DLS in matches. So the question that comes to any one mind is what is par score. Par score is the Total score that the chasing team should have reached, when they lose” X” wickets at the time of interruption. Now the target score is the revised score that the team is required to get after an interruption.
Difference Between Par Score and Target Score
Target score is the one fixed number, while par score changes with the loss of wickets. The par score is calculated before the interruption, while the target score is calculated after an interruption.
Example of DLS
In the recent Asia cup 2023, the semi final was played between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
- In the first inning Pakistan, started batting
- The rain interrupt the play during the first innings
- The match was reduced to 42 overs
- Pakistan score 252/7 in 42 overs
- Sri Lanka chase this target easily and took advantage of DLS
The DLS is unfair because for the first team, they played a few overs slowly because they planned their game according to 50 overs. On the other hand the second team already knows that there are 42 overs, and planned their game according to desire.
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Conclusion
The DLS method is now an important part of cricket, especially in Asia cup 2023. This method is always not 100% fair for both teams. One team always has the advantage of the DLS method.
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Frequently Asked Question
The full form of DLS is (Duckworth–Lewis–Stern) method.
The calculation of DLS in cricket is a complicated thing. It uses a table that is already defined and fed to the computer. The main formula is Team 2’s par score= Team1’s score (Team2’s resources/team1’2 resources).
The DLS method is always unfair for one team.