IMAMS and vicars took to the crease to hit divisiveness for six.

And the cricket match featuring Muslim and Christian clergy has been praised for bringing people together and showing unity in troubled times.

The event, Love Of The Roses, took place at Ribblesdale Wanderers Cricket Club in Clitheroe and saw religious leaders from both sides of the Pennines come together for an inter-faith cricket match.

It featured a Twenty20 match between a Yorkshire XI and Lancashire XI, which Lancashire won by 42 runs.

Organised by charity Kumon Y’all, the event was in its third year having previously been hosted in Yorkshire, and attracted a crowd of 100 people.

The family fun day also saw a children’s match with young people again from all different backgrounds and religions.

Spectators could enjoy a bouncy castle, archery and free food.

Cricket fan Farouk Hussain, one of the organisers of the event, said: “The whole aim of the match is to bring people and show unity in troubled times.

“It aims to give people a better understanding of faith.

“A lot of focus tends to be on the differences but we want to show people that we have strong common core values and that we’re all similar and have a mutual respect for each others faiths.

“This is all about promoting community cohesion and using the game of cricket to bring people together.”

Mr Hussain added: “There were prominent people who played from both faith communities from places including Blackburn, Preston, Bolton, Manchester, Batley and Dewsbury.

“We also had a children’s match with a mixture of Asian and white children.”

“The event is now in its third year and the last two events have been in Yorkshire so it was Lancashire’s turn this time and it’s been good to bring it here.”