Delhi Daredevils v Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL at Johannesburg

Johannesburg: Unbeaten in its past three matches, Delhi Daredevils' winning streak is unlikely to face much challenge from a battered Kolkata Knight Riders when the two sides square off in an Indian Premier League match here Sunday (May 10).

Daredevils and Knight Riders faced each other for the first time in the competition on Tuesday and Brendon McCullum's men, without a win for the past seven matches, were completely outplayed by the Delhi side.

With a semifinal berth out of bounds for Kolkata, the team would be playing to restore some of the lost pride against a side, which has emerged as a strong contender for the title with its consistent show.

Such has been Delhi's domination that it has remained unaffected by a bowler of Glenn McGrath's stature being reduced to a bench-warmer.

Skipper of England's Twenty20 World Championship squad Paul Collingwood came and left without padding up even once but Delhi remains unfazed.

A rookie pacer in Dirk Nannes has done the job for it with the ball and Delhi has been more than happy to give him a spot in the playing XI ahead of McGrath.

Collingwood, meanwhile, never seemed required in a line-up that already boasts of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, David Warner and Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Delhi, the top order looked uncharacteristically scratchy against Mumbai Indians but it didn't matter in the end as they were chasing a modest 117.

For Kolkata, the only positive Kolkata took out of their previous game was the performance of their top order. Morne van Wyk led their efforts with 74 while Brendon McCullum made a refreshing 35. But their bowlers failed to put any pressure on Delhi and the fielding was shoddy.

Match facts
Sunday May 10, 2009 (day/night)
Start time 04.30pm, 14.30GMT, 08:00pm IST

Stats and trivia

• Morne van Vyk has the highest average (83.50) in the tournament for a batsman who has played four innings or more.
• McCullum has hit three fours and five sixes in eight games. In one game alone, he managed 10 fours and 13 sixes and that was during his whirlwind 158 in Bangalore. That's a lot of catching up to do.