Saltburn-Norton match investigated for alleged ‘finger click’ cheating

An amateur cricket match made global headlines when a fielder was accused of cheating by clicking fingers to get a wicket.

The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has launched an investigation into the Second XI Division 2 game between Saltburn and Norton.

A viral video on social media shows a Saltburn fielder clicking his fingers as the ball passes Noman Shabir’s bat before being caught by wicketkeeper Josh Bowes. Saltburn appeals and the umpire gives Shabir out.

It has been suggested that the finger clicking was done to trick the umpire into thinking that the batter had lent the ball.

Saltburn won by 159 runs and top Division 2 by 17 points.

“The league has received a formal complaint regarding the alleged incident in Saturday’s two-division game,” Ligue X said in a statement.

“A full investigation has been launched and no further comment will be made until the formal processes are complete.”

Bowes took eight catches in Saltburn’s 22-run win over Shildon Railway last week. The record for most catches by a keeper in a men’s Test innings is seven.

Bowes leads the league standings with 31 catches, 10 more than any other player.

Rory Cotterill, who captained Middlesbrough’s second XI during last month’s 29-run defeat by Saltburn, responded to a social media post containing the video and alleged two other incidents of cheating by Saltburn in that match.

The original video of the incident has had over three million views on X, as reported by publications in Australia and New Zealand.

The BBC contacted the league and Saltburn. Norton declined to comment.