Wolvaardt: We want to be a lot better in the ODI series

Proteas Women captain Laura Wolvaardt is targeting a marked improvement from her side ahead of the upcoming ICC Women’s Championship (IWC) One-Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand, starting at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Sunday.

The first ODI will get underway at 2pm local time (3am SAST) and will be broadcast live on SuperSport Grandstand (Ch. 201).

Speaking during the pre-match press conference, Wolvaardt reflected on the team’s disappointing T20 International campaign, which ended in a 4-1 series defeat and outlined the key takeaways from their recent review sessions.

“We’ve had some good reflections and a couple of good meetings. Obviously, we want to be a lot better at in this ODI series.

“It’s a format we’ve been pretty good in, or pretty consistent in, over the last couple of months, so it’s about thinking back to what worked for us, especially in that World Cup and what we did well.

“We probably didn’t execute as well as we would have liked in the T20Is but I think the plans that we have in place for the ODIs are pretty solid. So hopefully we can put up better performances,” the skipper commented.

The upcoming three-match ODI series forms part of the IWC qualification cycle for the 2029 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, with South Africa currently placed third on the standings after opening their campaign with two wins and a loss against Pakistan last month.

“The points are super important. Obviously, those points are for the Championship. We want to get into a position early where we can qualify and not have to scramble at the end of the cycle, so every game is super important.

“It just gives that little bit of something extra to play for, makes it a pretty high-stakes game, so we’re looking forward to playing our best cricket, and hopefully it brings out the best in the players,” Wolvaardt added.

New Zealand head into the ODI series with strong momentum following convincing series victories against South Africa and Zimbabwe over the past month. Despite this, Wolvaardt’s side can take confidence from their recent head-to-head record in the 50-over format, having won four of the last five encounters against the White Ferns, including a six-wicket victory in their most recent World Cup meeting in India last year.

Assessing the hosts, Wolvaardt said: “They’re obviously a very good side. You can see that they have clear plans for all of us and are very well prepared.

“But I think in this series we’re definitely looking to be a bit more proactive, be a bit braver, make certain moves earlier and hopefully put them under a bit more pressure.

Proteas Women’s ODI Squad against New Zealand

Laura Wolvaardt (captain, Fidelity Titans), Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Garden Route Badgers), Ayanda Hlubi (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Masabata Klaas (Fidelity Titans), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Karabo Meso (DP World Lions), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kayla Reyneke (World Sports Betting Western Province), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions) and Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions).

Fixtures and Results

T20I Series

First T20I Sunday, 15 March at 3.45am (SAST) - Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui - NZ won by 80 runs.

Second T20I Tuesday, 17 March at 3.45am (SAST) - Seddon Park, Hamilton - SA won by 18 runs

Third T20I Friday, 20 March at 3.45am (SAST) - Eden Park, Auckland - NZ won by six wickets

Fourth T20I Sunday, 22 March at 3.45am (SAST) - Sky Stadium, Wellington - NZ won by six wickets

Fifth T20I Wednesday, 25 March at 3.45am (SAST) - Hagley Oval, Christchurch - NZ won by 92 runs

ICC Women’s Championship ODI Series

First ODI Sunday, 29 March at 3am (SAST) - Hagley Oval, Christchurch

Second ODI Wednesday, 1 April at Midnight (SAST) - Basin Reserve, Wellington

Third ODI Saturday, 4 April at Midnight (SAST) - Basin Reserve, Wellington