Claims of racial abuse over-shadow Scarborough clash

HUW TURBERVILL AT SCARBOROUGH: Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart said: “We’re fully aware of this unsavoury incident and have every confidence that the ECB and Yorkshire will deal with it in the appropriate manner"

The compelling Championship clash at Scarborough has been tainted by an alleged incident of a racial nature.

The claim is that an unnamed Surrey player was abused on the first day of the match hosted by Yorkshire.

Surrey allrounder Rikki Clarke said on Twitter that he had been "abused all day and even one of our players racially abused".

Now on day three Surrey CCC director of cricket Alec Stewart has said: “We’re fully aware of this unsavoury incident and have every confidence that the ECB and Yorkshire will deal with it in the appropriate manner."

Yorkshire have not yet responded to Stewart's statement. 

Surrey were penalised by five runs in the first innings for on-field behavioural incidents believed to have involved Jade Dernbach and Mark Stoneman. 

A sizeable crowd of 4,384 attended on day one, with 3,909 yesterday. There was a lively atmosphere on the famous wooden benches, but nothing that appeared irregular.

The incident has taken some of the sheen off a thrilling match.

When Yorkshire lost their sixth second-innings wicket they were on 70, 145 ahead. Division One leaders Surrey were edging ahead as favourites. 

Been abused all day and even one of our players racially abused. Caught me at a bad time.

— Rikki Clarke (@RikkiClarke81) June 25, 2018