A simple rule such as "reduce the target in proportion to the overs lost" sounds fair, but it ignores wickets. A team that is 100 for 1 with ten overs left is in a much stronger position than a team that is 100 for 8.
The idea of resources
The method used in professional cricket, known by the names of the statisticians who developed it, treats overs and wickets together as a team's batting resources. At the start of an innings a team has 100 per cent of its resources. Every over bowled and every wicket lost uses some of them.
If rain takes away part of the second team's resources, its target is reduced to match. If the first team's innings was cut short, the second team's target can even go up.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a team sometimes need more runs than the opposition scored?
If the first team lost overs to rain while still having many wickets in hand, the method assumes they would have scored faster in their final overs. The revised target reflects that.
Who calculates the target?
The match officials use software with official tables, so the number is the same everywhere.
Is there a minimum number of overs for a result?
Yes. Each competition sets a minimum number of overs that the team batting second must face for a result to stand.
Captains and coaches keep a printed "par score" sheet in the dugout during rain-threatened matches, so they know at every moment whether they are ahead or behind.
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