An amateur cricket match has made headlines around the world after a player was accused of cheating by snapping his fingers to get a wicket.

The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has launched an investigation into a second XI Division 2 match between Saltburn and Norton.

A viral video on social media appears to show a Saltburn fielder snapping his fingers as the ball goes past Noman Shabir’s bat before being caught by wicketkeeper Josh Bowes. Saltburn appeal and the referee sends Shabir off.

It has been suggested that the finger snap was designed to fool the umpire into believing that the batsman overtook the ball.

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

“The league received a formal complaint regarding alleged incidents at a Division Two game on Saturday,” the league said in a statement on X.

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

Last week, Bowes took eight catches in Saltburn’s 22-run win over Shildon Railway. The men’s event record for catches made by a goalkeeper in one innings is seven.

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

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

The original video of the incident has had more than three million views on X, with publications in Australia and New Zealand among those reporting it.

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