Pakistan allrounder Azhar Mahmood struck vital blows with his accurate seam bowling to help Kings XI Punjab score a seven-run win over defending champion Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League on Saturday.

Mahmood grabbed 3-25 after chipping in with a useful 18 runs as Kings XI Punjab scored 8-156 and then restricted Chennai to 8-149 on a slow Chidambaram Stadium pitch.

Mahmood removed openers Faf du Plessis (29) and Subramaniam Badrinath (25) in successive overs and came back to dismiss the dangerous Albie Morkel in the final over to clinch the game for Punjab.

Punjab is only above bottom-place Deccan Chargers with four wins and five losses from nine games while Chennai is in third with four wins, four losses and an abandoned game.