One of the most successful junior cricket events ever in the Bay of Plenty returns to Mount Maunganui next week.

Hundreds of young cricketers will take to the pitches at Bay Oval and Blake Park when the 13th Western Bay of Plenty Cricket Mini World Cup kicks off on Wednesday, November 9.

The annual tournament sees the city youngsters rubbing shoulders with their country cousins, with this year's Mini World Cup receiving entries from primary schools from Pahoia to Pongokawa.

'The Mini World Cup was initiated by Bay of Plenty Cricket in 2004, to introduce Year Five and Six pupils to the enjoyment of the game. To give the competition a real flavour of international cricket, all school teams represent a cricket-playing nation,” a tournament spokesperson explains.

'But the best part on the day is that many of the teams enters into the spirit of the occasion and dress up in the colours of the country that they are representing. Outside the Championship title, the most sought after prize is the best uniform award.”

Last year Greenpark School won the Mini World Cup for the first time, with the Greerton School playing in the colours of England.

They faced off against Tauranga Primary, playing in the colours of Bangladesh, with Greenpark reaching 67 in their turn at bat and restricting Tauranga Primary to 58.

St Mary's School won the inaugural Western Bay Mini World Cup in 2004 and have gone on to win the annual tournament on five further occasions.

Bethlehem College Primary were successful in the second tournament in 2005 and won again in 2007 with St Thomas More also winning on two occasions. Pillans Point Primary and Greenpark School round out the Western Bay Mini World Cup Roll of Honour.

The Western Bay of Plenty Mini World Cup takes place at Bay Oval and Blake Park in Mount Maunganui on Wednesday, November 9, starting at 9.15am.

THE WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY CRICKET MINI WORLD CUP TEAMS:

• Gate Pa Primary (New Zealand)
• Papamoa Primary (Australia)
• Golden Sands Primary (India)
• Mount Maunganui Primary (South Africa)
• Tauranga Primary (Sri Lanka)
• Greenpark Primary (England)
• St Thomas More (Bangladesh)
• Selwyn Ridge School (West Indies)
• Pongakawa School (Ireland)
• Bethlehem College Primary (Scotland)
• Pillans Point School (Zimbabwe)
• Te Ranga School (Canada)
• Te Akau Ki Papamoa (Kenya)
• Tahatai Coast School (Afghanistan)
• Pahoia School (United Arab Emirates)
• Arataki School (Namibia)
• Greenpark School (USA)
• Arataki School (Papua New Guinea)
• Golden Sands School (Honk Kong)
• Te Puke Primary (Pakistan)
• Te Puke Primary (Uganda)
• Omanu School (Bermuda)
• St Mary's School (Nepal)
• Papamoa Primary (Fiji)