South Africa peaking at the right time: Wolvaardt upbeat before T20 World Cup

Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Laura Wolvaardt lost both their warm-up matches, but Laura Wolvaardt said that the Proteas Women have every chance of winning the title.

In Short

• South Africa will start their campaign against West Indies
• South Africa lost both their warm-up matches
• South Africa will also face England and Scotland in the league stage

Laura Wolvaardt said that South Africa are in good shape for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. The Proteas played the semis in 2014 and 2020, after which they finished as the runners-up last year. Wolvaardt and Co. recently beat Pakistan 2-1 in the overseas T20I series, but lost both their warm-up matches to Harmanpreet’s Kaur India and Sophie Devine’s New Zealand.

Wolvaardt’s women will face Hayley Matthews’ West Indies in Dubai on Friday, October 4 to begin their campaign. The captain said that if South Africa live up to their potential, they have the potential to go all the way in the championship.

“I definitely think so. I think we're a very talented group of players. I think we've had a few ups and downs in recent times, but I like to think that we've put in a lot of good hard work and have a lot of really clear plans heading into this World Cup. So hopefully we're peaking at the right time. And I think if we all play our best cricket, then we stand a really good chance,” Wolvaardt said in the pre-match press conference.

‘One of the stranger things I have done’

Before the T20 World Cup, the captains of all the teams took part in a photo-shoot where they had to ride camels. Wolvaardt, South Africa women’s most consistent batter across formats, said that riding a camel is one of the “stranger things” she has done.

“Yeah, it was definitely one of the stranger things that I think I've done on a cricket field. I think Lita might have stitched me up a bit to put me on that camel. But no, it was good fun. It was very unexpected and light-hearted and fun and the video came out very cool. We look quite badass with the camels and the birds. So yeah, it was fun,” Wolvaardt added.

Apart from West Indies, Wolvaardt’s South Africa will also face England and Scotland in the league stage.