Chitwan Rhinos continued their unbeaten streak in the second Pokhara Premier League as they completed a 119-run rout of Butwal Blasters at the Pokhara grounds on Thursday.

Put into bat, the Rhinos piled a mammoth 203-3 in their 20 overs. In reply, Butwal were never really in the hunt after being reduced to 10-3 in the fifth over.

The top scorer for Blasters, Shivam Singh hit three sixes and a four in a-run-a-ball 33 and added 35 runs with Bhim Sharki for the fourth wicket. Sharki scored 21 off as many deliveries before he was caught by Rhinos skipper Paras Khadka off Bikram Sob in the 11th over.

Butwal Blasters kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Singh was caught by Bhuvan Karki off Bikram Bhusal off the last ball of the 12th over, leaving his side reeling at 64-5. Skipper Sompal Kami (3) departed with his side still needing 135 runs to win from the remaining 38 balls. However, Blasters then lost their remaining four wickets for just 15 runs as they were bowled out for 84 in 18.4 overs.

Karan KC was the pick of the Rhinos bowlers, claiming four wickets. Rohan Mustafa, the former United Arab Emirates captain, picked up two, while Sunny Patel, Karki, Sob and Bhusal claimed a wicket each.

Earlier, the Rhinos became the first franchise to top 200 runs in the history of the tournament.

Openers Khadka and Mustafa laid a solid foundation for the Rhinos, putting on 117 runs. Both of them scored a half century while they shared the highest first-wicket partnership in the PPL. Khadka hit two sixes and six fours on the way to 63 runs from 40 balls. He was caught by Kami off Aftabuddin Ahmed in the 12th over.

The Pakistan-born Hong Kong international, Babar Hayat, who remained unbeaten on 66 against defending champions Pokhara Paltan on Tuesday, however, managed just a solitary run in Thursday’s game before being clean bowled by Ahmed in the 14th over. When Hayat made his long walk back to the pavilion, the Rhinos were still headed toward a giant total with 129-2 on the board in 13.1 overs.

Aarif Sheikh added 69 runs with Mustafa for the third wicket before being caught by Kami off Abinash Bohara with three balls in their stipulated 20 overs remaining. Patel remained unbeaten on 4, alongside Mustafa who was the day's highest scorer with 70 runs. Mustafa, who was adjudged the man of the match, clubbed two maximums and smashed seven fours in his 56-ball innings.

The Rhinos now have four points from two matches and are placed on the top of the points table with an impressive Net Run Rate of 4.153. The tournament is still wide open as every other team has got two points.

As many as two matches of the PPL are slated for Friday. Blasters are set to play against Paltan in the first game which would be followed by a Rhinos and Expert Dhangadi clash.