New Delhi [India], Feb 8: A Twenty20 match was played in the ski resort of St Moritz on Thursday, when the fire of subcontinent cricket was settled on Swiss ice. The teams were led by the two most explosive batsmen of India and Pakistan with Virender Sehwag’s Palace Diamonds taking on Shahid Afridi’s Royals.

The former Pakistan skipper’s team emerged victorious by six wickets in the first of two matches. Palace Diamonds scored 164/9 in 20 overs with Sehwag top-scoring with 62. Royals reached 166/4 in 15.4 overs with former England batsman, Owais Shah scoring magnificently innings of 74 runs. Indian veteran batsmen Sehwag was given company by former Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who smashed 40 runs off 30 balls. For Royals, former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq was the bowling star with impressive figures of 4-0-18-4. Palace Diamonds made a poor start with Tillakaratne Dilshan (8), Mahela Jayawardene (7) and Michael Hussey (1) falling cheaply. However, Sehwag rapid fire on ice, showing he is the boss as he blasted 62 off 31 balls, including four fours and five sixes.

The second match will be played on Friday. Cricket has been played on ice in St Moritz for more than 25 years, but this is the first time a series is being played. The thick sheet of ice on the frozen lake can take withstand almost 200 tonnes. The town has held two Winter Olympics in 1928 and 1948.