Local match goes viral over 'finger-clicking' cheating claim

Local match goes viral over 'finger-clicking' cheating claim An amateur cricket fixture has attracted worldwide attention after a fielder was accused of using a finger‑click to influence an umpire’s decision and secure a wicket. The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has opened an investigation into a Division Two second‑XI encounter between Saltburn and Norton that took place on Saturday. Footage circulating on social media shows a Saltburn fielder clicking his fingers as the ball passes the bat of Noman Shabir, before being caught by wicketkeeper Josh Bowes. The umpire subsequently gave Shabir out. Observers have suggested the clicking was intended to trick the official into believing the batter had edged the ball. Saltburn went on to win the match by 159 runs and currently leads Division Two with a 17‑point advantage. The league released the following statement on X: "The league person received a ceremonial ailment regarding alleged incidents successful a Division Two crippled connected Saturday," the league said successful a connection connected X. "A afloat probe has been initiated and until specified clip arsenic the ceremonial processes are implicit nary further remark volition beryllium made." Last week Bowes recorded eight catches in Saltburn’s 22‑run victory over Shildon Railway, surpassing the men’s Test record of seven catches by a keeper in an innings. He now tops the league with 31 catches, ten more than any other player. Rory Cotterill, who captained Middlesbrough’s second‑XI in a 29‑run loss to Saltburn last month, responded to a social media post featuring the video and alleged two additional instances of cheating by Saltburn during that game. The original clip has amassed more than three million views on X, prompting coverage from outlets in Australia and New Zealand. The BBC has contacted the league and Saltburn; Norton declined to comment.