Cricket on ice: Afridi-led Royals beat Sehwag's Diamonds by 6 wickets

Cricket legends locked horns with each other on Thursday, only this time, the match was not played on a regular pitch but on the snowy peaks of the Swiss Alps. 

Shahid Afridi-led Royals beat Virender Sehwag-led Diamonds in the inaugural match of the two-day St Moritz Ice Cricket tournament in Switzerland.

The Diamonds, batting first, gave a target of 165 for the loss of nine wickets to the Royals. 

Skipper Sehwag was the pick of the batsmen for the Diamonds with a score of 62 from 31 deliveries. Andrew Symonds chipped in with 40 from 30 deliveries.

Abdul Razzaq picked up 4/18 while Shoaib Akhtar took 2/32 for the Royals. 

Royals chased down the target in 15.2 overs, with Owais Shah scoring 74 off 34 deliveries in an innings which included seven maximums and five 4s.

The event, dubbed ‘St Moritz Ice Cricket 2018’ and already being hailed as the "best battle of cricket on top of the world", is taking place against the serene and breathtaking backdrop of the Swiss mountains in freezing cold temperatures on February 8 and 9.

Along with Afridi and Sehwag, the event also features glittering names such as Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Razzaq, Mahela Jayawardene, Jacques Kallis, Zaheer Khan, Michael Hussey and others.

Speedster Shoaib Akhtar couldn't wait to share his adventures in the snow ahead of the tournament.

Wasim Akram and wife Shaniera are also at the venue to join in the fun. "From Shalwar Kameez to Thermals & Skiis!.." Shaniera tweeted from the altitude.

Sri Lanka's Jayawardene shared the serenity of the mountains in an Instagram post. 

Squads

Shahid Afridi's Royals XI: Shahid Afridi (Pakistan), Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan), Abdul Razzaq (Pakistan), Jacques Kallis (South Africa), Graeme Smith (South Africa), Daniel Vettori (New Zealand), Nathan McCullum (New Zealand), Grant Elliott (New Zealand), Monty Panesar (England), Owais Shah (England), Matt Prior (England), Aidan Andrews (Switzerland)

Virender Sehwag's Diamonds XI: Virender Sehwag (India), Zaheer Khan (India), Mohammad Kaif (India), Ajit Agarkar (India), Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka), Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka), Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka), Michael Hussey (Australia), Andrew Symonds (Australia), Mithun Manhas (India), Ramesh Powar (India), Rohan Jain (Switzerland)