Kolkata beat Delhi to top IPL table

New Zealand batsman Brendan McCullum scored a half-century on Monday as Kolkata Knight Riders beat Delhi Daredevils by six wickets to take top spot in the Indian Premier League. McCullum hit seven fours in scoring 56 off 44 balls and leading the Knight Riders to 154-4 in 18.4 overs after it had restricted the Daredevils to 153-9. The Knight Riders have 17 points from 12 matches with eight victories, while the Daredevils are second with 16 points from 11 games. Th Daredevils missed the void left by England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who has returned home to play the Test series against 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 Jacques 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 scored 27 to keep 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.