South Africa opener Laura Wolvaardt is still looking for her first ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup century after three consecutive scores in the 60s and 70s.
And she is hopeful that facing Australia, the only other unbeaten team in the championship would be the perfect impetus to do so. The 22-year old is the second-youngest member of a Proteas side hoping to become the country’s first senior national team to win a cricket World Cup.
South Africa can join Australia in the semifinals with a win or a tie/no result in Wellington, and their in-form opener is enjoying the opportunity.
Wolvaardt said: “It [a century] is something I’ve thought about. It’s 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 it’s not the worst problem to have either, I could be sitting here with four ducks or something like that.
“It’s 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 I’m watching properly. Hopefully, it just comes right next game.”
Wolvaardt and her team have the opportunity to overcome Australia in ODI cricket for the first time, and she will not be intimidated by facing the competition’s top-ranked team.
She added: “Australia, obviously, are a world-class side, they’re number one in the world. So it’s not a game that we’re 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 can’t go out there playing the player, still just playing the ball and I don’t think we’ve ever beaten them in ODI, so I think it’s a great opportunity to do that. We’ll have to be on the top of our game.”
Meanwhile, the Momentum Proteas will be without Masabata Klaas as she not play after failing to recuperate from a shoulder injury sustained in the victory against New Zealand.
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