Women’s World Cup: ‘Most prepared’ to take on Australia, says South Africa’s Wolvaardt

Wellington, March 21 : South African opener Laura Wolvaardt feels her team will go into the ICC Womens World Cup league game against the Meg Lanning-led Australia on Tuesday "most prepared", given that several of her team-mates have played against them in the Womens Big Bash League (WBBL).

South Africa and Australia are the only two unbeaten sides so far in the eight-team tournament.

While Australia have won all five games so far to become the first team to enter the World Cup semifinal knock-outs, the Proteas have won all four of their games and are on eight points.A win on Tuesday will also help them secure a last-four berth.

Its been almost five years since South Africa played Australia in a one-dayer, but the WBBL experience is the reason behind Wolvaardt and her teams confidence ahead of the big match at Basin Reserve."I think it (WBBL experience) helps a lot.Its actually one of the sides (Australia) that I guess we should be most prepared for because a lot of our girls have spent quite a lot of time playing against and in the same team as a lot of their players."But I guess it goes both ways.

I guess we might know their games a bit better, but they might know ours a bit better as well, having spent some time over there.So I think its an advantage but I guess it gives them a bit of an advantage as well.So well see what happens," said Wolvaardt.

Wolvaardt has emerged as one of the most successful batters for her team in the tournament with three consecutive scores in the 60s and 70s.But the opener is still searching for a maiden ICC Womens Cricket World Cup century.And she is hoping coming up against the only other unbeaten side in the competition, Australia, will be the perfect motivation to do it."It (a century) is something Ive thought about.Its not nice going out three times in the 70s/60s and not quite getting to the 100 when I really want to score 100 in a World Cup.But I guess its not the worst problem to have either, I could be sitting here with four ducks or something like that."Its obviously a bit frustrating and if I find myself in that situation again, I might just take a bit of extra focus or an extra second before I face the ball just to really make sure Im watching properly.Hopefully it just comes right next game.

"Wolvaardt and her side has the chance to defeat Australia for the first time in ODI cricket and she will not be too overawed by coming up against the highest-ranked side in the competition."Australia, obviously, are a world-class side, theyre number one in the world.

So its not a game that were going to take lightly at all.I guess we just need to see it as a normal game though, just watch the ball, one ball at a time.We cant go out there playing the player, still just playing the ball and I dont think weve ever beaten them in ODI, so I think its a great opportunity to do that.

Well have to be on the top of our game." South Africa will be without Masabata Klaas after she failed to recover from a shoulder injury picked up in the win against New Zealand.

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