Saltburn concede match over 'finger-clicking' claim

Saltburn concede match over 'finger‑clicking' claim Saltburn Cricket Club’s second XI was scheduled to face Marton’s second team in a cup match on Wednesday evening, but the fixture has been called off after the club conceded the game. BBC Sport reported that Saltburn said it could not field a side because of the “holiday season.” Earlier on Wednesday morning the match had been set to proceed as planned before being withdrawn. The cancellation follows an investigation launched by the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League on Monday evening. The league placed Saltburn under scrutiny after a complaint was lodged regarding the club’s second XI victory over Norton in Division 2. Video of that encounter spread rapidly across social media. Central to the controversy is Saltburn batsman Brian Devine, who is alleged to have clicked his finger at the precise moment the ball passed Norton batter Noman Shabir’s bat before being caught by wicketkeeper Josh Bowes. An appeal to the umpire resulted in the wicket being awarded. Since the clip emerged, additional footage from earlier Saltburn matches featuring Devine has surfaced, with similar allegations being made. The original video has garnered more than 7.5 million views on X, prompting users to label Devine “Clicky Ponting.” The BBC has approached Devine for a comment. A meeting involving Saltburn, league officials and legal representatives took place on Tuesday night, although no outcomes have been disclosed publicly. The league, Saltburn, Norton and the England and Wales Cricket Board have each declined to comment on the incident. Saltburn’s second XI was due to play Marton in the opening round of the Division Two Hundred competition, a 100‑ball‑per‑side format comparable to The Hundred.