Cricket-Punjab and Bangalore join two other teams at top of IPL

JOHANNESBURG, May 3 (Reuters) - The Punjab Kings XI and the Bangalore Royal Challengers joined two other teams at the top of the Indian Premier League standings after winning their respective games on Sunday.

Jacques Kallis and Robin Uthappa scored unbeaten half-centuries as Bangalore cruised to a nine-wicket victory with 11 balls to spare over the Mumbai Indians at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

Kallis cast aside his inhibitions to score 69 not out off 59 balls, while Uthappa was relentless in hammering 66 not out off just 42 deliveries as their unbeaten partnership of 126 carried Bangalore to 150 for one.

South African seamer Dillon du Preez (three for 32) had earlier made an impressive IPL debut with a his top-class new-ball spell in which he claimed three wickets without conceding a run in his first eight balls.

His haul included the wickets of Sachin Tendulkar for 11 and JP Duminy for a single as Bangalore made a dream start by reducing Mumbai to 23 for three after they had elected to bat first.

Mumbai staged a fine comeback, however, as half-centuries by Sanath Jayasuriya (52) and Dwayne Bravo (50 not out) lifted them to 149 for four.

The Punjab Kings XI clinched a six-wicket victory at the close against the Kolkata Knight Riders, whose hopes of making the semi-finals are rapidly receding after their sixth defeat in eight matches, at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth.

The Knight Riders dropped a number of catches to make the Kings XI task easier after they were set 154 to win in 20 overs.

Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena scored 52 not out off 41 to balls to steer Punjab home.