Western Bay of Plenty, has double representation at the New Zealand Post Cup and Shield National Finals being played at Lincoln University this week, with Tauranga Intermediate taking part in the Shield playoffs that kick off on Thursday (26 November 2015). Tauranga Intermediate girl's team, join the Otumoetai Intermediate boy's side in qualifying against stiff competition, to represent Northern Districts at the annual New Zealand Primary School Cricket Championships. 

The six finalists at New Zealand Post Cup and Shield represent each of the six NZ Cricket Major Associations in the country. The Tauranga representative's journey to the South Island tournament began back in March 2015, when they travelled to the Eastern Bay of Plenty to meet Whakatane Intermediate, in the Bay of Plenty title decider. Tauranga captain Nensi Patel was quickly into action and had the first Whakatane wicket in the opening over. The home side was despatched for just 44 in the 17th over of the T20 match-up. Tauranga cruised home to victory, when they reached their target for the loss of just two wickets in the seventh over of their innings. Tauranga Intermediate then travelled to the Auckland region on the 14th October 2015, to square off with Kamo Intermediate from Northland in the ND Final, with the winner grabbing the trip to the NZ Cricket National Finals.

Winning the toss, resulted in the Bay of Plenty team electing to bowl first, with the Western Bay school side bowling good line and length to restrict Kamo to 68 runs in their allotted overs. At 16 for the loss of two wickets at the six over mark, skipper Nancy Patel decided to take the game away from the opposition bowlers. Nancy blasted three consecutive boundaries with the Tauranga side going to drinks with the game seemingly in the bag at 48/2. In tandem with Emma Bettleheim, the pair saw their team home in the 15th over for the loss of just two wickets.

New Zealand Post Cup @ Lincoln University 

26th - 28th November 2015 Tauranga Intermediate Team 

• Nensi Patel (C) 

• Emma Bettelheim

• Paris Robertson

• Jade Harris

• Imij Hawkins

• Emily Pilbrow

• Sophia Rose

•  Christina Gatenby-Hinton

• Eve Simmonds

• Shay Little

• Anya Pearce 

• Lola Vahey-Bourne

Coach: Jake Ryan            Manager: Hiteshkumar Patel