Maths in cricket: rain delays
Use start, pause and finish times.
Quick answer
Maths in cricket helps us understand how long a match lasts, when it starts and finishes, and how rain delays affect the game. We use time calculations, addition, subtraction, and sometimes even multiplication to work out when cricket matches happen and how long they last.
Learning outcome
By the end of this page, you will be able to calculate how long a cricket match lasts, including any rain delays, and understand how time is used in planning cricket games.
- You can add and subtract times to find how long a match goes on
- You can tell the difference between start and finish times
- You can work out how much time is lost due to rain delays
- You can plan your own cricket match using times
Why this matters
Cricket is a game that can last many hours, and sometimes rain stops play. Understanding time helps us plan when matches happen, how long they last, and what to do when the weather changes. This is useful not just for watching cricket, but also for planning your own sports events, games, or even your daily schedule.
Learning how to work with time helps you be better at:
- Planning your day
- Knowing when your favourite TV shows start and finish
- Understanding how long trips take
- Playing games that involve timing
How it works
When a cricket match starts, it has a start time. If it gets delayed by rain, we need to add that delay to the original time. If the match finishes, we need to know the finish time.
Let’s break it down:
- Start time – when the match begins
- Delay – time lost due to rain or weather
- Actual start – start time + delay
- Duration – how long the match goes on
- Finish time – actual start + duration
We use addition to add delays and subtraction to find the difference between times.
Examples you can see
Let’s look at a real example of a cricket match:
Example 1: A cricket match is scheduled to start at 10:00 am. It is delayed by 2 hours due to rain. The match lasts for 3 hours. What time does the match finish?
- Start time = 10:00 am
- Delay = 2 hours
- Actual start = 10:00 am + 2 hours = 12:00 pm
- Duration = 3 hours
- Finish time = 12:00 pm + 3 hours = 3:00 pm
Answer: The match finishes at 3:00 pm.
Example 2: A cricket match starts at 2:30 pm. It is delayed by 45 minutes. The match lasts for 2 hours and 15 minutes. What time does it finish?
- Start time = 2:30 pm
- Delay = 45 minutes
- Actual start = 2:30 pm + 45 minutes = 3:15 pm
- Duration = 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Finish time = 3:15 pm + 2 hours and 15 minutes = 5:30 pm
Answer: The match finishes at 5:30 pm.
Example 3: A match was supposed to start at 11:00 am but was delayed by 1 hour and 30 minutes. It was delayed again by 45 minutes. If the match lasts 2 hours, what time does it finish?
- Start time = 11:00 am
- First delay = 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Second delay = 45 minutes
- Total delay = 1 hour 30 minutes + 45 minutes = 2 hours 15 minutes
- Actual start = 11:00 am + 2 hours 15 minutes = 1:15 pm
- Duration = 2 hours
- Finish time = 1:15 pm + 2 hours = 3:15 pm
Answer: The match finishes at 3:15 pm.
Try it as a mini adventure
Adventure: The Rainy Cricket Match
You are the match planner for a local cricket team. The match is scheduled to start at 2:00 pm. It gets delayed by 1 hour and 15 minutes due to rain. The match lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes. What time does the match finish?
Let’s go through it step by step:
- Original start time = 2:00 pm
- Delay = 1 hour 15 minutes
- Actual start = ?
- Duration = 2 hours 30 minutes
- Finish time = ?
Challenge: Solve this step by step and see if you can work out the finish time!
Common mistakes
- Mistake: Adding minutes and hours without converting them properly.
Why it happens: Children may add 30 minutes and 1 hour and get 40 minutes instead of 1 hour 30 minutes.
Fix: Remember that 60 minutes = 1 hour. If you add 45 minutes + 30 minutes = 75 minutes, that’s 1 hour and 15 minutes. - Mistake: Forgetting to add the delay to the start time.
Why it happens: Children might think the match starts at the original time and ignore the delay.
Fix: Always check if there is a delay and add it to the start time first. - Mistake: Confusing start and finish times.
Why it happens: Children might subtract the start time from the finish time instead of adding the duration.
Fix: Remember: Finish = Start + Duration
Parent and carer guide
Parents and carers can help children by:
- Using a real clock or timer to show how time changes
- Practising adding and subtracting time with everyday examples like “What time will it be in 30 minutes?”
- Using a calendar or schedule to help children understand when events happen
- Encouraging children to write down the steps when solving time problems
- Reinforcing that delays mean we add time, not subtract it
It’s okay if children make mistakes. Time can be tricky, and it’s a skill that improves with practice!
Practice questions
- A cricket match starts at 10:15 am. It is delayed by 1 hour and 20 minutes. It lasts 2 hours and 45 minutes. What time does it finish?
Answer: 2:20 pm - A match starts at 3:45 pm. It is delayed by 30 minutes. It lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes. What time does it finish?
Answer: 5:30 pm - A match is supposed to start at 9:00 am. It is delayed by 45 minutes, then again by 1 hour and 15 minutes. It lasts 3 hours. What time does it finish?
Answer: 12:30 pm - If a match starts at 11:30 am and finishes at 2:15 pm, how long did it last?
Answer: 2 hours and 45 minutes - A match starts at 4:00 pm. It is delayed by 2 hours and 10 minutes. It lasts 3 hours and 50 minutes. What time does it finish?
Answer: 10:00 pm
FAQ
How do you calculate how long a cricket match lasts?
You add the delay time to the start time, then add the match duration to get the finish time.
Why do cricket matches get delayed?
Matches get delayed by rain, wind, or other weather conditions that make it unsafe or impossible to play.
Can you use multiplication to work out time?
Yes! For example, if a match lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes, and you want to know how long 3 matches last, you can multiply 2 hours 30 minutes by 3.
What if a match is delayed by 1 hour and 45 minutes?
You add 1 hour and 45 minutes to the start time. For example, if it starts at 10:00 am, it actually starts at 11:45 am.
How can I help my child with time problems?
Use clocks, timers, or even a calendar. Practice with real-life examples like when you go to the park or watch a movie.