IPL PHOTOS: Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab, Match No. 45

Suresh Raina's splendid century enabled title favourites Chennai Super Kings edge Kings XI Punjab by 15 runs in a Pepsi Indian Premier League match at Chepauk on Thursday.

The win, Chennai's seventh on the trot, took their points tally to 18 from 11 games.

- Scorecard

The home team posted a commendable total of 186 for four before restricting Punjab to 171 for six.

Having opted to bat first and lost Wridhimann Saha (18) early, Mike Hussey and Raina hardly took any risks and yet added 55 runs in only 7.2 overs.

It was a partnership that laid the foundation for the formidable total that the home team eventually managed.

Michael Hussey was content rotating the strike but managed 35 runs.

The Australian's 29-ball innings was inclusive of three boundaries and helped him usurp the orange cap, awarded to the tournament's highest scorer, from Chris Gayle. 

The Royal Challengers Bangalore opener claimed it back later in the evening.  

Suresh Raina batted magnificently to strike exactly 100 off only 53 balls with the help of seven fours and half a dozen sixes.

The UP left-hander became the third batsman after Chris Gayle and Shane Watson to score a century in the current edition.

Batting on 91 at the start of final over, Raina reached 97 with a brilliant straight six off Parvinder Awana, and then scampered home for a double.

Off the penultimate delivery of the final over, he took a single to reach the milestone as the heads totting the stands at the Chepauk gave him a standing ovation.

Parwinder Awana was the most successful bowler for Punjab with figures of two for 29. 

He first had Wriddhiman Saha (18) caught by Shaun Marsh at deep square leg before returning to have Albie Morkel (23) caught by David Miller. 

Mohit Sharma was impressive with the ball again for Chennai. 

He struck with his final ball of his first over, getting through the defence of Luke Pomersbach (7).

In his third over, Mohit had Mandeep Singh (15) caught by Raina. 

He finished with figures of two for 31. 

Shaun Marsh was the pick of the Punjab batsmen. 

Having replaced captain Adam Gilchrist in the squad earlier in the tournament, the 29-year-old yet again gave a good account of himself. 

He scored a 51-ball 73, inclusive of eight boundaries and a couple of sixes.

David Miller made an unbeaten 51 off just 26 balls, his innings inclusive of five boundaries and two sixes.

His effort, that included a brilliant conter-attacking partnership of 95 with Shaun Marsh for the fourth wicket, though went in vain. 

Marsh and Miller were on a 'Mission Impossible' but did play their part admirably well to get close to the target but in the end, 186 proved to be good enough for the CSK juggernaut to roll on.

Needing 19 to win off the last over, Dwayne Bravo bowled intelligently giving away only three runs but more importantly took three wickets to finish with figures of three for 34.

He claimed the purple cap as a result. 

The win took CSK's points tally to 18 from 11 matches and they are now all but through to the last four stage of the competition. The seventh successive win is an IPL record which they now share with Royal Challengers Bangalore.