New Delhi - New Zealand batsman Brendan McCullum scored a half-century on Monday as the Kolkata Knight Riders beat the Delhi Daredevils by six wickets to take top spot in the Indian Premier League.
McCullum hit seven fours in scoring 56 off 44 balls to lead the Knight Riders to 154-4 in 18.4 overs after they restricted the Daredevils to 153-9.
South Africa's Jacques Kallis also produced an excellent all-round performance for Kolkata, scoring 30 runs off 27 balls and taking two for 20 in his allotted four overs.
The Knight Riders have 17 points from 12 matches with eight victories, while the Daredevils are second with 16 points from 11 games.
The Daredevils missed the void left by England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who has returned home to play the Test series against the West Indies.
Captain Virender Sehwag (23) and Australian opener David Warner (21) gave the home team an electrifying start of 40 off 21 balls before Kallis dismissed them in successive overs.
Irfan Pathan top-scored with 36 off 22 balls but was stumped by McCullum in the last over of the innings as he attempted to hit quick runs.
McCullum and Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir (36) laid a solid platform of 68 off 42 balls, while Kallis's 30 kept the Knight Riders ahead in the game.
Umesh Yadav dismissed McCullum and Kallis in successive deliveries but not before the pair had added 60 for the second wicket.
McCullum hit seven fours in scoring 56 off 44 balls to lead the Knight Riders to 154-4 in 18.4 overs after they restricted the Daredevils to 153-9.
South Africa's Jacques Kallis also produced an excellent all-round performance for Kolkata, scoring 30 runs off 27 balls and taking two for 20 in his allotted four overs.
The Knight Riders have 17 points from 12 matches with eight victories, while the Daredevils are second with 16 points from 11 games.
The Daredevils missed the void left by England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who has returned home to play the Test series against the West Indies.
Captain Virender Sehwag (23) and Australian opener David Warner (21) gave the home team an electrifying start of 40 off 21 balls before Kallis dismissed them in successive overs.
Irfan Pathan top-scored with 36 off 22 balls but was stumped by McCullum in the last over of the innings as he attempted to hit quick runs.
McCullum and Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir (36) laid a solid platform of 68 off 42 balls, while Kallis's 30 kept the Knight Riders ahead in the game.
Umesh Yadav dismissed McCullum and Kallis in successive deliveries but not before the pair had added 60 for the second wicket.