Hamilton, Jan 23: When millions are doled out for non-performers in the IPL, many sadists sit back and calculate the price of every run scored or wicket taken by them; of course, it is just an exercise in futility as one can only arrive at a notional figure.
But in the second One-dayer here a simple catch, that too beyond the boundary line, proved to be worth a mouth-watering 1,00,000 NZ dollars (close to Rs 52,00,000); and it wasn't even taken by any of the players on the field.
Jatinder Singh, a club-level cricketer, came into the windfall by winning a contest called: Catch a million. Promoted by a beer company, a spectator has to catch a six to win the initial cash award of NZ$ 1,00,000; he can then go to the next international match and win once again, if he is lucky enough.
It is, however, not as simple as it sounds: the catch has to be taken cleanly, and that too with only one hand; there are other disclaimers too. A spectator becomes part of the contest by buying a T-shirt and lanyard at the start of the match.
Jatinder almost lost out as the lanyard was not over his orange T-shirt, when the catch was taken; the insurance company, which is supposed to shell out the money, almost nullified his claim but eventually the amount was given in a small ceremony during the match.
Jatinder took the catch beyond the long on boundary when Corey Anderson smashed it high into the sky. "I was keen on sitting a little wider, and not so far behind, but my friend insisted that we sit at that position," he told later.
Explaining the prize catch, he said: "To be honest, I got up and didn't think it was going to make it as far as me, I thought it was going to land short, so then I sort of gave up on it, and then it kept going, and next thing I know it was in my right hand. Really, it happened so fast."
He jumped wildly when he realised that the ball stuck to his hand, and spectators around him joined in the celebrations. "I don't know what I will do with the money," he said. "Maybe buy a new car. I am sick of my old one," he added.
Anderson flashed a big smile when he figured that he had made somebody rich, surely aware that 20 days later, it would be his turn.
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