KENT captain Rob Key received a three-point penalty and was ordered to pay £400 costs after an ECB disciplinary panel found him guilty of serious dissent during Spitfires' Twenty20 Cup final win over Gloucestershire in Birmingham on August 4.

The in-form county opening bat dallied on the Edgbaston outfield and later threw his bat toward the Kent dug-out after match umpires Peter Willey and Neil Mallender upheld a controversial low catch claimed by Gladiators' fielder Hamish Marshall.

The ECB's Cricket Discipline Commission chaired by judge Edward Slinger and which included Tim O'Gorman and Simon Schanschieff, met on Monday to consider Key's conduct and pass judgment.

The Panel were satisfied that the umpires' decision was correct and, having regard to his particular responsibilities as captain, reprimanded Key as to his conduct. The panel were particularly concerned that the incident took place during a high profile televised match, but took into account the Kent captain's unreserved apologies both to them and to the umpires.