We are getting better: Dhoni

Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni yesterday said, though they are performing, they are still not as good as they were in the fourth edition of the league, when they won the title.

Chennai Super Kings yesterday beat Kings XI Punjab by 15 runs here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The home team scored 186-4, while Kings XI could only manage 171-6 in their 20 overs.

Suresh Raina, who scored an unbeaten 100 against Kings XI Punjab yesterday

"I won't say it is a fortress. I don't think we have performed as well as in the fourth edition of the IPL. We are getting better with every game. We did really well today. Raina batted well with Hussey, and I am quite happy with our bowling too... Just one tactical error in bringing in Raina," Dhoni said after the match.

"Performance was really great. We had four fast bowlers. In this format if you are doing well, just go through with them. If you hold them for final overs they could also go for runs."

Suresh Raina struck a fine unbeaten 100 off just 53 balls to post the third ton of the sixth edition of the cash-rich league.

With their seventh consecutive win, Super Kings consolidated their position at the top of the table with 18 points from 11 matches and almost have a foot in the play-offs. For Kings XI Punjab, it was their third consecutive loss and their play-off chances are getting tough as they are lying sixth with eight points from 10 matches.

Mike Hussey (35) and Albie Morkel, 23 not out of 16 balls, also came up with valuable knocks.

Shaun Marsh (73) and David Miller (51 not out) with their 95-run stand for the fourth wicket got Kings XI close but they still fell short by 14 runs.

Pacer Mohit Sharma (2-31) gave Chennai a great start by removing Luke Pomersbach (7) and Mandeep Singh (15) within first six overs to leave Kings XI at 36 for two. Marsh and his compatriot David Hussey (22) stitched a 37-run partnership for the third wicket before Hussey was caught Dwayne Bravo off Ravichandran Ashwin.u00a0