Opener Murali Vijay struck a vital half-century as the Chennai Super Kings snapped a string of defeats by beating the Royal Challengers Bangalore by five wickets.

A measured half-century from Jacques Kallis (52) had helped the Royal Challengers to 161 for four after Anil Kumble had decided to bat first.

Vijay, however, made light of that total, smashing a 39-ball 78 and Suresh Raina chipped in with an excellent, unbeaten 44 as the Super Kings coasted to victory - only their third in eight matches.

The Royal Challengers had begun briskly, but the Super Kings' spinners Shadab Jakati and Muttiah Muralitharan put the brakes on the scoring and the Royal Challengers allowed the game to drift from there.

Opener Manish Pandey departed cheaply, succumbing to a mistimed pull shot, but the Royal Challengers repaired the damage fairly well through a 42-run stand for the second wicket between Kallis and Robin Uthappa (21).

As in the previous meeting between these teams, Uthappa had seemed set to make an early reprieve count and had blasted Manpreet Gony - who put him down even before he was off the mark - for consecutive sixes and a four, but was snaffled by Jakati immediately after the end of the powerplay.

The two Super Kings spinners then took centre stage and between them conceded a paltry 38 runs from eight overs, Jakati snaring a couple of wickets in the process.

After Uthappa's dismissal Kallis cobbled together a 63-run stand with Virat Kohli (34), labouring to a half-century - his eighth in the IPL - in the process.

Both batsmen were dismissed at the start of the 16th over and Kevin Pietersen (23 not out) and Cameron White (21 not out) - both playing for the first time this season - lifted the Royal Challengers with useful cameos at the end.

Matthew Hayden was stumped early in the chase, but Vijay seemed to enjoy the promotion to the top of the order and quickly narrowed the equation with an array of big-scoring shots.

He launched his innings by smashing new-ball bowler Praveen Kumar for three sixes and a four in his second over and bludgeoned a total of four boundaries and six hits over the ropes before miscuing Pietersen to Pandey in the deep.

The Royal Challengers brought themselves back into the game with a few late blows, but Raina kept his nerve and ensured victory with an over to spare.