CATCH a cricket ball and win £1,000 - that's the simple task awaiting York teacher Martin Jackson tonight.

But add a few thousand spectators, a potential nationwide television audience and five other eager contestants desperate to pocket the cash and it becomes a whole different ball game.

Jackson, from Huntington, is one of six finalists in the Extreme Catches Competition which will be held at the interval during Yorkshire Phoenix's National League clash with Lancashire Lightning at Headingley tonight.

All the contestants are required to catch a ball fired from a bowling machine at increasing distances, with a dropped catch resulting in elimination.

Jackson, a 43-year-old PE teacher at Norton College, reached the final after winning one of the six heats at Headingley earlier in the season.

And he has been trying to keep his success a secret from his pupils - until now.

It will be a big occasion for Jackson, who will be cheered on by family at Headingley.

Both he and his son are members of Yorkshire CCC and regularly attend matches, though rarely get so close to the action.

He has been getting in plenty of practice with his club team, Scarborough Beckett League side Settrington, as well as regular outings for the Norton College staff team.

Play at Headingley begins at 4.10pm with Jackson and his fellow finalists expected to be in action around 7pm.

Today's cricket

Third Test (day 3 of 5), Colombo: Sri Lanka 258 v South Africa 279 and 27-0

PPP healthcare County Championship, Division One, Southampton (day 2 of 4): Hampshire v Leicestershire 265-9 (82 overs); Riverside (day 1of 4): Durham v Kent. Division Two (day 1 of 4), Nothampton: Northants v Sussex; Trent Bridge: Notts v Middlesex; Kidderminster: Worcs v Essex.

Norwich Union NCL, Division One, Bristol: Gloucestershire Gladiators v Somerset Sabres (4.10); Headingley: Yorkshire Phoenix v Lancashire Lightning (4.10). Division Two, Whitgift: Surrey Lions v Warwickshire Bears (1.0)

Vodafone Challenge (day 1 of 3), Derby: Derbyshire v West Indies.