Cricket match brings out the best of Dewsbury
Eleven vicars and 11 imams stepped up to the crease last weekend as they ‘bowled over’ the local community with their latest good-spirited sporting contest.
Arranged by the local youth group, Kumon Y’all, the game at Sands Lane Playing Fields, Dewsbury, was set up to further build on the multi-faith relations in the region.
The vicar’s team may have been victorious on the scoreboard yet with a random draw for batsmen and bowlers, ensuring every player played two overs in each position, it was certainly a unique contest.
Free refreshments and entry was available for all in attendance as the game was played out in the sunshine on Saturday 17th September.
Farook Yunus, project leader at Kumon Y’all, explained more about the project and how it built on previous events.
“It was a fantastic day,” he said. “We had two great teams and the community spirit was again on show for everyone to see.
“The vicars team won but it was the spirit the game was played in and the message put across that we really wanted to achieve. It built on our previous Kumon Y’all football match and I look forward to seeing more events in the future.”
Whilst the action on the field of play was entertaining the crowds, local youths spoke with onlookers about the community they live in.
Farook added: “As well as the cricket, on the day we had a group of youngsters talking to people that came about how communities have drifted apart and what we should do.
“This is part of our work of collating information from people and then using that to bring people together. We had some really good feedback and look forward to some of our sessions with young people on making action plans.
“We also met people from three different areas and were invited to do some work with them. I think this is a very good way of uniting communities.”
Amongst the players on the vicars side was Batley, Purlwell and Hanging Heaton Priest, Reverend Mark Umpleby.
Praising the project he said: “So often in recent years, Dewsbury and the surrounding area has made the news for the wrong reasons but it is projects like ‘Let’s Unite’ which do not get the coverage they deserve.
“These events are a real relationship builder and help celebrate the diversity we have here.”
