Captain ban cut after appeal

CRICKET:

Heyside captain Ben Holt has had his ban for abuse of an umpire cut.

Initially suspended until the end of next, a three-man appeals panel has reduced the suspension to the opening four games of next term.

If he offends again up before the end of 2015, Holt will serve the rest of his original ban.

In the fixture against Stayley on June 22, he was found to have abused an umpire, failed to control his players and harassed an umpire after the match.

Heyside stripped Holt of the captaincy after the incident and banned him for four games.

He is still able to play in the Twenty20 Cup quarter-final clash against Greenfield at Little Hey Street tomorrow.

In the starting XI for the first match curtailed by rain, he has been given permission by the league to play in the rearranged tie.