A club cricket league is investigating an alleged incident of cheating in a division two match in North Yorkshire, after video emerged of a player seemingly clicking his fingers to simulate the noise of a ball hitting a bat.
Video clips shared on social media show a Saltburn CC slip fielder appearing to click his fingers as the ball passes the bat, tricking the umpire into believing the ball had taken the edge of the bat. The umpire gave the Norton CC No.4 batter, Noman Shabir, out caught behind. Saltburn went on to win the match by 159 runs, after bowling Norton out for 143.
Immediately after being given out, Shabir appeared to dispute the dismissal, gesturing to both the fielders and the umpire and shaking his head, before walking off the field.
@Saltburncc First slip clicks his fingers to imitate an edge, bat nowhere near it and given out.
— Ben Mummery (@ben_mummery) July 27, 2026
This is about the worst case of cheating I’ve ever seen in cricket.
Apparently, their keeper has a huge amount of catches this season.@talkSPORT @bbctms @SkyCricket @TailendersPod pic.twitter.com/iM7lZfKF5q
The incident took place during a Division Two game on Saturday, July 25, in the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League. After the video surfaced on social media, several other clips detailing similar incidents involving Saltburn CC fielders were also shared online.
Boro 2s skippa here, was 2 more incidents during this game, leading to a 15 and 16 year old being cheated out of an innings, along with this one. I was at the non strikers end at the time unknowingly watching them cheat in real time. We lost this game by 29 runs. Shocking. pic.twitter.com/BTTngKbjw3
— rory99 (@rorycotters9) July 27, 2026
On Monday evening, the NYSD league stated that it had launched a full investigation into the alleged incidents.
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.
— Official NYSDCricket (@NYSDCricket) July 27, 2026
During the game in question, Saltburn keeper Josh Bowes took two catches behind the stumps, taking his tally to 31 dismissals in eight league matches this season – an average of almost four catches per game. Eight of those catches came in Saltburn's last league game against Shildon Railway CC. He has taken 10 more catches than the second-best keeper in the league, who has kept wicket in 11 Division Two matches this season.
Both Saltburn CC and Norton CC have been contacted for comment.
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