Row erupts in club cricket after team accused of cheating to get batsmen out

A club cricket team has been accused of cheating after a video emerged showing a fielder allegedly clicking his fingers to mimic the sound of a ball hitting the bat.

An investigation is now underway into a match between Saltburn Cricket Club 2nd XI and Norton Cricket Club 2nd XI in the South Durham League (NYSD).

Footage shows what appears to be a Saltburn slip fielder creating a noise with his fingers as the batter swings for the ball.

After taking social media by storm, the player has been accused of trying to deceive the umpire into giving his opponent out.

Saltburn – who currently sit at the top of the league – ended up winning the match at their home ground in North Yorkshire by a huge 159 runs, scoring 302 runs compared to Norton’s 143.

In the video, the batter can be seen looking bemused after the ball is caught by the wicketkeeper and wild appeals are made.

The NYSD has since posted on social media confirming they received a formal complaint regarding the game, which was played last Saturday on July 25.

The statement read: ‘The League have received a formal complaint regarding alleged incidents in a Division Two game on Saturday.

‘A full investigation has been initiated and until such time as the formal processes are complete no further comment will be made.’

Across social media, other clips have started to emerge of previous examples that appear to show the same or similar issues.

Rory Cotterill, who captained Middlesbrough CC’s 2nd XI in a 29-run defeat to Saltburn earlier this year in June, has spoken publicly, saying that a similar situation occurred in that match.

Responding to a video online that allegedly showed the same player clicking his fingers, users in the comments section called it ‘scandalous’.

Elsewhere online, X user Ben Mummery, who originally brought the situation to light, branded the scandal ‘click gate’.

In a post, he wrote: ‘Click gate has gone viral and I’m genuinely really happy it’s being exposed.

‘Harshest possible punishment please. It’s not cricket.’

In his original post, he also branded it ‘about the worst case of cheating I’ve ever seen in cricket’.

He added: ‘Apparently, their keeper has a huge amount of catches this season.’

Saltburn Cricket Club has been approached for a comment.