NZ Cricket, Sponsor Rethink Promotion That Rewards Fans For One-Handed Catches

New Zealand Cricket "hopes to ease concerns about fans endangering each other as they attempt to catch balls," as sponsor Tui Brewery is offering NZ$50,000 ($35,800) to "any fan who catches a six one-handed while wearing a promotional T-shirt," according to the BBC. All-rounder Jimmy Neesham said that fans were "cannonballing into families with small children" trying to make a catch. NZC said that it is now discussing "potential solutions" with the brewery. The organization said in a statement, "NZC and Tui Brewery have met to discuss potential solutions on how to improve the fan participation and ultimately safety during the matches." Fans "must wear an orange T-shirt and catch a six with one hand in order to win money." The "Catch a Million" competition recently ran in South Africa, and has done so twice before in New Zealand -- notably during the 2015 World Cup -- "but has not been in place during the last two seasons" (BBC, 1/4).