Ireland Women vs South Africa Women | Players to watch out for

Ireland women will open their 2022/23 International summer when the Gaby Lewis-led unit takes on a powerful South African line-up in the first of the three T20Is in Dublin on Friday (June 03).

The three T20Is will be followed by three ICC Women's ODI Super League matches, marking Ireland's debut in the championship.

On that note, here's a look at five players to watch out for:

Gaby Lewis (Ireland)

The 21-year-old will create history on Friday as she will become the youngest Irish cricketer to lead her country.

She will also have the task of leading her batting unit against a strong Proteas attack. Lewis has been sensational with the bat in the last 12-15 months.

Since the start of January 2021, she has scored 325 runs in 10 innings at an average of 40.62 and a strike rate of 128.45 with the help of two 50+ scores, which also includes a hundred.

Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa)

The opening batter has been the bedrock of the Proteas line-up for several years now. She was in blistering form in the recent 50-over World Cup held in New Zealand and will look to carry it to the T20Is against the Irish.

Wolvaardt has scored the second-most number of runs for the Proteas since the start of 2021. In 8 games, she has accumulated 161 runs at an average of 53.66, and a strike rate of 161 with one 50+ score and the visitors will hope for similar returns in the forthcoming series.

Tazmin Britts (South Africa)

The 31-year-old opening batter, like Wolvaardt, has been sensational in recent times. In 5 games that she has played since January 2021, Britts has hammered 153 runs at an average of 76.50 and a strike rate of 104.79 with the help of two 50+ scores.

It will be interesting to see if she can carry her form in the fixtures against Ireland.

Shabnim Ismail (South Africa)

The right-arm fast bowler has been the spearhead of the South Africa attack for a number of years now.

She will once again be the key for the visitors in the upcoming three-match battle. In her last 6 T20I outings, Kapp has taken 11 wickets - the most by a South African bowler- at an average of 13 and a miserly economy rate of 6.5.

If Ireland have to succeed, they will need to find a way to counter Ismail.

Leah Paul (Ireland)

The 22-year-old left-arm orthodox has proved to be quite a handful in the game's shortest format ever since her debut in 2019.

In 20 games, she has taken 18 wickets at an average of 13.88, and her economy rate of 5.10 is quite sensational.

Since the start of 2021, Paul has been the leading wicket-taker for her side. In 10 innings, she has taken 12 wickets at an average of 11.65 and a barely believable economy rate of 4.66, which includes one four-wicket haul.

With the South Africans traditionally weak against the spinners, Leah Paul could be quite a handful.