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Baxenden have suspended batsman Mark Rishton after he turned up for their game against Barnoldswick on Saturday 'under the influence of alcohol'.

Officials of the Jennings Ribblesdale League club decided to ban the 24-year-old for two matches at an emergency meeting on Sunday and Rishton has also been told to write letters of apology to the league, Barnoldswick and the match officials.

``We soon became aware that he was still under the influence of alcohol from the night before and wasn't in a fit state to play cricket,'' said Baxenden chairman John Irwin.

``He took the field for one over but we then decided he couldn't play on - both umpires and our captain decided that was the right thing to do.

``I don't really know why he turned up for the game in that kind of state. But he's let the club down, he's let himself down and he's let the players down.''

Rishton is widely regarded as one of the top amateur batsmen in the Ribblesdale League and has hit over 300 runs for Baxenden so far this season.

But he was left out of the League's representative team for their game against the Bolton League at Astley Bridge at the weekend and Irwin believes that may be one of the reasons for his behaviour.

``We can't understand why Mark was left out of the team after he's been in such good form this season,'' said Irwin.

``I know he was very disappointed about that so whether or not that had anything to do with it, I don't know.

``But that's the end of the matter now as far as we are concerned.''