If it rains in the first innings, then for every seven minutes lost, an over is deducted from both sides. For example, if play is suspended for 21 minutes, then each side’s innings will be reduced by three overs.

So, if playing a 50-over game that will be reduced to 47 overs, you do not continue to play 50 overs in the first innings as it was a few years ago. The use of DL will now set a new target . It may be more than the total the side has actually scored in the field as the side batting first will have expected to bat 50 overs and planned their innings accordingly. The number of wickets lost can be crucial.

If play is suspended in the second innings, then an over is reduced off the total for every 3.5 minutes of play lost and DL is used to set a revised target. In the second innings, the par score is to be displayed. This shows the team batting second how many runs they should have scored at the end of every over

The Bolton Cricket League have an additional rule for teams bowling their over rate slow. If this happens in the first innings the umpires will note how many overs are left to bowl after the three hours and five minutes time limit and three runs per over will be added on to the final total after the full 50 overs are bowled. This enables DL to be used to create a revised target on a reduced-over basis. For example, if a team is two overs short in their allocated time limit, then six runs are added to their final total. A revised total is set with 48 overs and not 50 using DL.

In the second innings, any overs not bowled within the time limit will incur an additional five runs to be added on at the start of each over late. If this means a result is achieved by this method then so be it.

The process is applicable to second-team cricket, allowing for games to be 45 overs and the time limit reduced accordingly.