Mishra makes his mark

Delhi Daredevils underlined their Indian Premier League title credentials with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over the struggling Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wanderers.

AB de Villiers top-scored with an unbeaten 40 as Delhi cruised to their 124-run target and top spot in the table, leg-spinner Amit Mishra having done most to undermine the Kolkata innings with three cheap wickets.

He claimed 3-14 in four overs to collect the match award, while Dirk Nannes and Ashish Nehra shared four wickets.

Amit Mishra returned fine figures of 4-0-14-3 to help Delhi reclaim top spot in the Indian Premier League

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The Daredevils won the toss and elected to insert their opponents on a dry pitch, a move which paid off almost immediately as the Kolkata top order swiftly collapsed.

Opener Brendan McCullum, having hit a six off the second ball, was adjudged lbw moments later and Brad Hodge perished first ball.

Morne Van Wyk also failed to score and by the end of the second over Kolkata had lost three of their foreign imports for a combined total of six runs.

Sourav Ganguly and Yashpal Singh attempted to steady the ship but Mishra dismissed Singh and Wriddhiman Saha in his first over.

Henrique Moises became Mishra's third victim but Kolkata finally managed to find some rhythm thanks to Ajit Agarkar and Ganguly.

Having reached 44, however, Ganguly was caught at backward point off Nannes, and Agarkar, having taken his side into three figures, fell to Pradeep Sangwan for 39.

It was a stroll for Delhi with the bat, captain Gautam Ghambir and David Warner putting on 50 before they fell for 18 and 36 respectively.

Tillakaratne Dilshan managed only a single, but de Villiers was not to be moved and, along with Dinesh Karthik, saw Delhi home with 17 balls to spare.