The Duckworth-Lewis (DL) method is a way to calculate the target score for the team batting second in a one-day international cricket match interrupted by weather or other circumstances.
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It is generally accepted to be a fair and accurate method of assessing a target score; however, as it attempts to predict what “would have happened” had the game come to its natural conclusion, it invariably generates some controversy.
A simple example of the DL method being applied was the first One-Day International between India and Pakistan in their five-match ODI series in Pakistan in February 2006. India batted first, and were all out in the 49th over for 328. Pakistan, batting second, were 7 wickets down for 311 when bad light stopped the game after the 47the over. This is a relatively uncontroversial example, because with three full overs left to play (18 balls) and three wickets in hand, most cricket fans would agree that Pakistan would be favored to easily close the 17 run gap and take the match. In fact, application of DL method showed that at the end of the 47th over, the par score was 304, so the official result of the match was that “Pakistan won by 7 runs”.