Dunedin builder snares catch and $50,000

A cricket fan has taken a one-handed catch and claimed $50,000 in Dunedin.

The competition sees up to $50,000 on offer per ODI and T20 individual for crowd members wearing orange Tui branded shirt who manages to take a one-handed screamer.

Builder Craig Dougherty became the first to take a $50K catch this home summer when he caught a smashing six from Martin Guptill in the opening over of today's ODI between the Black Caps and Pakistan at Dunedin's University Oval.

"It hasn't really sunk in yet, I still can't believe I caught it, but it's awesome that I did catch it," he told Sky Sport.

The competition was been mired in controversy last week after several potential catchers slammed into other crowd members while trying to take catches during the Black Caps/West Indies T20 game at Mt Maunganui.

Since the outcry, which included former Black Cap Kyle Mills and dropped Black Cap James Neesham talk of their concerns, New Zealand Cricket has introduced new competition guidelines; including the creation of catch zones.

"The principal change to the procedures will see a dedicated 'catch zone' created at venues, in which Tui Catch-A-Million contestants will have to be located in order to qualify for the prize. Catches taken by patrons outside these zones will be deemed ineligible," New Zealand Cricket said in a statement last week.

"In another revision, unruly behaviour, or behaviour which risks injury (such as diving), will be deemed in breach of the promotion's terms and conditions, therefore disqualifying contestants in the event of a successful catch.

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission.