Bring on Australia: Proteas turn attention to T20WC opener

South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt was quick to put a loss to New Zealand behind her and focus on the Proteas' clash against Australia at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Manchester on Saturday.

The Proteas fell to a narrow five-wicket loss to New Zealand in their final warm-up fixture in Loughborough on Tuesday and now have three days to prepare to face the six-time T20 World Cup champions in what looms as a crucial fixture in Group 1 at the tournament.

Wolvaardt knows there are plenty of areas South Africa must improve in if they are to mix it with Australia and suggested she will utilise the time prior to the upcoming fixture to put further strategies in place to help her side claim victory.

"We would have liked to win both (warm-up fixtures), but maybe this is just what we needed just before the tournament starts," Wolvaardt said after the loss to New Zealand.

"Just a little eye-opener that is not just going to happen and we can't just go through the motions with the ball.

"I think we've come up against a quality side today and they sort of outsmarted us with the bat today.

"So we're going to have to have some good strategies in place for the Australia game and hopefully we're able to turn it around."

One positive to come from the clash with the White Ferns for South Africa was the form of experienced allrounder Chloe Tryon.

Tryon smashed six sixes in an unbeaten innings of 61 from just 26 deliveires and Wolvaardt believes the hard-hitting right-hander will be pivotal to the fortunes of the Proteas at the T20 World Cup if that form can be replicated.

"That was awesome," Wolvaardt said.

"I think it's been a while since she's like struck a ball that sweetly.

"I think she held her shapes really well. She was hitting so nice through the line of the ball and it's quite hard to bolt her when she's in that form.

"I think she was taking some balls from outside leg and hitting them over the covers for six.

"It's great that she's able to find, or has been able to find a bit of form before the tournament."

Reigning champions New Zealand will enter the T20 World Cup following two victories in the warm-up fixtures, with the side also in action on Saturday when they take on 2016 title winners West Indies in another enticing contest in Southampton.

New Zealand skipper Melie Kerr - who top-scored for the White Ferns with 61 against South Africa - is wary of the West Indies and knows her side must be at their best if they are to commence their title defence with a victory.

"West Indies are a quality side and they have some real match winners within that team," Kerr said.

"For us it's a massive game and you've just got to turn up and again both teams start on zero and you can't get complacent so it's just trying to I guess control what you can and play really good cricket and for each individual to try and nail their role and the outcome will be what it will.

"I guess if we can play our best cricket I think we give ourselves a great chance."