Mary Waldron is hoping that Ireland can unleash their "fearless cricket" over the next couple of weeks after they warmed up for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup with a superb victory over Australia.
Ireland defeated the world's No 1-ranked side in their final warm-up match in Stellenbosch, scoring nine runs in the final over to win by three wickets.
Australia, who are bidding to win a third successive T20 World Cup, won the toss and opted to bat first, with Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrath both scoring half-centuries as they set Ireland a target of 169 for victory.
Amy Hunter (26), Orla Prendergast (26) and Laura Delany (32) got Ireland's run chase off a good start and they reached 131 for four after 15 overs.
Waldron hit 15 off nine balls before her dismissal in the penultimate over, with Ireland still requiring 14 runs, but a six from Arlene Nora Kelly helped seal a morale-boosting win.
Waldron was part of the 2018 squad that last played at the World Cup and she believes that the younger members of this year’s selection have given them a real chance of raising eyebrows in South Africa.
Ireland start with clash with neighbours England on 13 February in the south-western city of Paarl with group matches against Pakistan, West Indies and India to follow.
Ireland warmed up for next week's #T20WorldCup by beating world number one side Australia in Stellenbosch today. Captain Laura Delany says that "as a squad, everything is heading in the right direction". #Cricket pic.twitter.com/jeKq0FN60v
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 8, 2023
"It’s a nice kind of brand of fearless cricket they play," Waldron told RTÉ Sport of those less experienced recruits.
"We’re fortunate to have contracts professionally for the last nearly 12 months. Just getting to hone their skills week in, week out and have those conversations around their game and develop the awareness, because they absolutely have the shots.
"It’s just to develop that into game situations but there’s some very, very exciting talent.
When asked for her World Cup expectations, Waldron said: "We’re an evolving team, we’re young, this is our first World Cup together as a squad so certainly so wins on the board would be nice.
"But really just to go out and execute our plans and play to the best of our ability is definitely what we’re aiming for and hopefully that leads to a couple of big dogs being knocked over."
The Dubliner said that the pain of missing out on the 2020 series still remains at the forefront of their minds.
Ireland had competed at an eight-team qualifying tournament with the top two progressing, but a third-placed finish meant that they were eliminated.
"We missed out on the last T20 World Cup, which hurt a lot, so I think that was a lot of the driving force in preparation for this," Waldron said.
"You've got to this stage now where it’s a chance to show your skills so just go out there and enjoy it.
"I think that’s the message from the coaching staff as well, to really enjoy that opportunity. We’re more than capable of getting some wins on the board here so it’s really exciting for us as a group."
This World Cup campaign is one part of what is set to be an exciting year for female Irish sport.
Head of the list is Vera Pauw’s Republic of Ireland team who have qualified for a first-ever soccer World Cup.
For Waldron, that’s another event that she will really take a keen interest in having played for the side under successive managers Noel King and Susan Ronan.
"I am lucky that I have played in a World Cup, I always thought when I was younger that it would be at a soccer World Cup but for the girls to get that opportunity in July is unbelievable.
"I’ve played with half that team and you're aware of that emotion with them along the way, the journey, and I cannot wait to support them.
"For ourselves, cricket is that little bit behind soccer in terms of the support. To have a team at the World Cup, you see it when the men play at the World Cup and do well you hear it on the radio and on the news. It grows the popularity of the sport.
"Being female and a minority sport, it’s really, really beneficial."
