Biratnagar Titans thrashed Butwal Blasters by 21 runs on Thursday at the Pokhara grounds in the playoff match to determine the second finalists of the Pokhara Premier League. Chitwan Rhinos have already made to the final winning all five group matches.

Chasing 166 for a win, the Blasters were bowled out for 144 in their 20 overs. Earlier, after being put to bat, the Titans had posted 165-5 in their stipulated 20 overs.

For the Blasters, openers Aftabuddin Ahmed and Shankar Rana (4) put on 53 runs in 4.5 overs. Ahmed scored 43 runs off just 22 balls and he was the first wicket to fall. Blasters then lost the next two wickets in a space of just five runs. Bhim Sharki and Shivam Singh (14) then added 36 runs for the fourth wicket. Sharki added another 33 runs with Puran BK (15), before BK was run out by Pradeep Airee. From 127-5, Blasters lost their remaining five wickets for just 17 runs, handing Titans a comprehensive win

Shahab Alam and Punit Mehta picked up three wickets each which tore apart Blasters' aspirations of securing a final berth. Kishore Mahato, Muhammad Zaid Alam and Jitendra Mukhiya each bagged a wicket.

In Titans’ innings, Muhammad Zaid Alam (20) was the first wicket to fall with 39 runs on the board. From 67-2 in 10.1 overs, Sunil Dhamala and Puneet Mehra added 57 runs for the third wicket. Dhamala clobbered two sixes and four fours to score 61 from 54 balls before getting out in the 17th over.

Mehra (19) was clean bowled by Abinash Bohara when the Titans were comfortably placed at 136-4 at the end of the 18th over. Pradeep Singh Airee remained unbeaten on 33 alongside Nitesh Thapa (2) after Noman Khan was out for a duck. Airee hit four sixes and a boundary in his swashbuckling innings scored off just 13 balls.

Harsh Tonk was the pick of the Blasters’ bowlers with two wickets from his four overs. He gave away only 21 runs. Lalit Bhandari and Bohara shared a wicket apiece.

"The team effort was great in the past two recent matches. We've played like champions and we deserve to be in the final. We just need to take the positives and carry on with the momentum," said Airee, the captain of the winning team.

"The previous match was a ‘must win match’ for us and we played considering the fact that we would have crashed out had we lost," said Airee. "The team making the least errors will win the final. Despite being termed the underdogs, I was always confident of our team making it to the final."

Airee added: “We need to improve our bowling and also be better in terms of fielding if we are to be the champions."

Blasters’ captain Sompal Kami said, "We were playing well, but lost quick wickets and could not capitalize on the start we had. You just never know in cricket, it is a game of uncertainties."

"Despite the loss, I am proud of the effort the team displayed throughout the tournament. To have reached the playoffs is an achievement as well," said Kami.

The final will be played on Saturday. The Rhinos are undefeated in the league. Previously, the Titans had suffered an 18-run defeat against the Rhinos in the league stage.