South Africa face Ireland at Newlands in the first of three T20 Internationals, and there’s no sense of easing into things. The Proteas have all their heavy hitters back from the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia.

This includes captain Laura Wolvaardt, all-rounders Marizanne Kapp and Nadine de Klerk, while former skipper Dané van Niekerk makes a long-awaited return to the national squad for the first time in four years. Wolvaardt told OFM Sport that any opportunity to play at Newlands is cherished.

Dané van Niekerk. Photo: Cricinfo

“It’s very nice being back in Cape Town, back home. There's no place like home, especially for me, being from Cape Town. It feels super refreshing to be back here,” she said of the iconic ground.

“Really looking forward to the series and having a home crowd for a change. It was a tough tour in India, having all those people against us in the crowd, so I'm looking forward to some home support.

“I think Newlands is amazing, so everyone was up and about at training today. It’s not every day we get to play here.”

Although it’s been only a few months since the Proteas contested their first-ever Cricket World Cup final in India, Wolvaardt says it still feels surreal that the next global showpiece is already looming.

“It’s crazy that it’s so soon. It feels like we've just come off the World Cup and there’s another one in a few months’ time,” she said. “We’ve been playing some good cricket. 

“Obviously, that final hurdle is still in front of us, three in a row. I think we’re doing a lot of things right to keep making those finals. But we need to make sure we play our best cricket once we reach that stage again.

Marizanne Kapp. Photo: Cricinfo

“Overall, I think the group has been making really good strides, and hopefully we can get ourselves into another final.”

Despite South Africa being ranked far higher than Ireland, Wolvaardt warned against complacency, stressing that the visitors have improved dramatically in recent years.

“They’re a good side. They have a lot of really good individual players. Gaby Lewis has played around the world. I’ve played a bit with Orla Prendergast as well; she’s a really good cricketer. Players like that can take the game away from you.

Nadine de Klerk. Photo: Cricinfo

“We’ll have to be spot-on with our plans against their big players. They look like a young side playing a fearless brand of cricket with the footage I’ve seen. 

“We’re going to have to be switched on because players like that can take games away from you.”

The first ball in the shadow of Table Mountain is scheduled for 14:00.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek