Pitch invader somersaults onto home plate

A pitch invader showed the sort of speed and evasive skills craved by football scouts after outmanoeuvering a posse of security guards during a recent Major League Baseball game.

Hitting the field during a clash between the Chicago Cubs and the St Louis Cardinals, the man sprinted and weaved across the diamond as the officials tried to coral him.

Showing amazing speed, he accelerated at one point to beat a diving tackle from a guard.

And his intention seemed clear as he sprinted toward the home plate hunting a home run, before producing a perfect somersault to roll over the plate.

The daring run and roll earned a rousing reception and plenty of laughs from the appreciative crowd.

But it didn't go down so well with the players, particularly Cardinals pitcher Carlos Villanueva, who was clearly unimpressed.