England substitute fielder Gary Pratt, who ran out Australian captain Ricky Ponting during the Ashes, has landed a 3,400 pounds ($6,000) windfall for a friend.
Neil Stoker, who went to school with Pratt, placed a 100 pounds bet in March 2003 with bookmakers William Hill at odds of 33-1 that his friend -- a player for Durham's county side -- would play for England within the next five years.
Stoker, 26, was amazed when he saw Pratt come on to the pitch in the fourth Test and run out Ponting, in the process igniting a row over the use of substitute fielders.
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"Strictly speaking we wouldn't have expected to pay out on Neil's bet until Gary Pratt won a cap for starting an England match.
"But given the extraordinary circumstances surrounding his unexpected starring role when he ran Ponting out we thought it would be a little churlish not to pay out."
Stoker is a Newcastle United fan and says his winnings will pay for his season ticket for a couple of years.
