---
title: "Why Do Wickets Lost Change a DLS Target When the Same Number of Overs Remain?"  
description: "Why Do Wickets Lost Change a DLS Target When the Same Number of Overs Remain?"  
author: "Eetu Saarinen"  
published: 2026-10-19  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/117907/why-do-wickets-lost-change-a-dls-target-when-the-same-number-of-overs-remain  
category: "Mix Category"  
tags: ["cricket", "DLS Method", "ODI Cricket", "Sports rules"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# Why Do Wickets Lost Change a DLS Target When the Same Number of Overs Remain?

I understand why rain reducing the available overs can change a cricket target, but I’m struggling with the role of wickets in the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method.

Suppose two otherwise identical ODI chases are interrupted after 20 overs. In both cases the chasing side has scored 100, and play resumes with the innings shortened to 30 overs. One team was 100/2 at the interruption; the other was 100/6.

Would they receive different revised targets even though they have the same score and the same ten overs left? If so, how do wickets in hand affect the resources lost during the interruption?

I’m looking for an intuitive explanation rather than the full calculation. I also keep seeing **par score** and **target score** used as though they mean the same thing—what is the distinction when checking whether a chasing team is ahead?


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Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/117907/why-do-wickets-lost-change-a-dls-target-when-the-same-number-of-overs-remain

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