Tauranga Intermediate boys' cricket team is just one game away from playing in the 2011 New Zealand (formerly Milo) Cup National finals.

This Friday, the Tauranga side, which won the Northern Districts title, will play the Auckland champion with the winner earning a place in the national final to be played in Palmerston North on November 29.

The New Zealand Cup and Shield (girls' competition) was put in place in 2000.

The two competitions give primary school pupils the opportunity to enter and play in a national cricket competition each year.

Tauranga Intermediate has made the finals playoff after winning the recent ND championship in Hamilton.

The day saw the top four teams from throughout the ND region contest a Twenty20 knockout series, to find the Northern Districts NZ Cup champion.

First up Tauranga faced Poverty champions Gisborne Intermediate.

The Western Bay side batted first and posted a respectable 120 for five wickets.

Tauranga skipper Jamie Oakley put together a captains knock to top score with 21 runs.

Callem Taylor and Luke Mannix took two wickets apiece as Gisborne was restricted to 68/7.

Counties Manukau champions Pukekohe Intermediate were the Tauranga opponents in the final stanza. Batting first Tauranga batsman Sean Wakelin top scored with an elegant 54, with Ben Campbell chipping in with a solid 27 runs.

Tauranga finished there turn at the crease at 140 for six wickets.

Sean Wakelin produced a man of the match performance grabbing four wickets at a cost of just nine runs, as Pukekohe were dismissed for just 42 runs.

Luke Mannix returned 3/12, with Jamie Oakley taking two wickets for one run.

New Zealand Cup at Tauranga Intermediate on Friday, November 11 at 11am

Tauranga Intermediate v Belmont (Auckland) Intermediate

Tauranga Intermediate New Zealand Cup Team

Jamie Oakley, Finn Russell, Sam Bodnar, Tom Renouf, Luke Mannix, Mikaere Leef, Jaryd Gordon, Craig Baldry, Calem Taylor, Josiah Turner, Chris Wooller, Sean Wakelin, Alex Revington, Ben Campbell.