Speaking ahead of the first ODI, Wolvaardt admitted the team had taken a hard look at their recent T20 International struggles, where they slipped to a 4-1 series defeat, and stressed the need to raise their standards.

“We’ve had some honest reflections and productive discussions as a group. We know we need to be better in this ODI series,” she said.

Suné Luus - Morgan Piek

The skipper remains confident, however, that the 50-over format offers a chance for the side to reset, pointing to their consistency in ODIs over the past few months.

“It’s a format where we’ve generally been solid. It’s about going back to what worked for us, especially during the World Cup, and building on that. While our execution in the T20s wasn’t where it needed to be, our plans for the ODIs are in place — now it’s about delivering on them.”

With the series forming part of the qualification pathway for the 2029 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, Wolvaardt emphasised the importance of collecting points early in the cycle. South Africa currently sit third on the standings after winning two of their three matches against Pakistan.

“Every point matters in this competition. We want to put ourselves in a strong position early on rather than chasing qualification later. That adds a bit more edge to every game and gives the players extra motivation to perform.”

The hosts head into the series with confidence after recent series wins, including a dominant showing against South Africa in the T20 format. Despite that, the Proteas Women will draw belief from their strong recent ODI record against the White Ferns, having won four of their last five meetings — including a convincing victory at last year’s World Cup.

Tazmin Brits - Morgan Piek

Wolvaardt expects a well-drilled New Zealand outfit but believes her team can shift the momentum by being more assertive.

“They’re a quality side and clearly very well prepared, with solid plans in place. For us, it’s about being more proactive, showing a bit more bravery, and making key decisions earlier. If we can do that, we can apply pressure and hopefully bring out our best cricket.”

Play at the Hagley Oval will get underway at 3am on Sunday morning.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport