Red-hot White Ferns target first Women's T20 World Cup title - New Zealand preview

Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Eden Carson, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu.

11 February v Australia at Boland Park, Paarl
13 February v South Africa at Boland Park, Paarl
17 February v Bangladesh at Newlands, Cape Town
19 February v Sri Lanka at Boland Park, Paarl

Results in the last 10 T20I games (Most recent first): W, W, W, W, W, W, W, L, W, L

It certainly won't be easy to do, but a first-up victory over the tournament favourites will set up the White Ferns well and put them in the box seat to qualify for the semi-finals.

Even if they fail to get the win in the tournament opener, it will be important for New Zealand to gain some valuable momentum as only two teams can make it through from the group to the knockout stages of the event.

Look for experienced duo Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates to lead the way at the top of the batting order and for veteran seamer Lea Tahuhu to be the focal point with the ball against the talented Australia outfit.

New Zealand made it to the final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup at the first two editions of the tournament and had their best chance to claim the title when they took on Australia in the decider in the West Indies in 2010.

Chasing Australia's modest total of 106/8, Sophie Devine and Nicole Browne had taken New Zealand to within striking distance of victory when the latter was dismissed from the final delivery of the 18th over.

It left Devine at the crease to finish the job and the modern-day Kiwi great almost pulled off with a remarkable effort to drag her side across the line.

New Zealand needed 14 to win from the final over to be bowled by Ellyse Perry and the Australia star athletically stuck her leg out on the final delivery to deny Devine and the Kiwis as the Aussie held on for a famous victory.

NZ skipper targets ultimate glory at Women's T20WC

New Zealand have relied on the likes of Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu for so long and now need a player in the ilk of Amelia Kerr to step up and lead the way.

Kerr was decent without being outstanding at last year's ICC Women's Cricket World Cup on home soil and will be keen to show her capabilities on the big stage in South Africa.

The 22-year-old is just as adept with the ball as she is with the bat, so look for the Kiwis to try and utilise her many talents as much as possible.

There's no doubt that New Zealand have the talent to emerge from their group and reach the semi-finals, but they will all their stars to fire at the pointy end of the event if they are to go all the way.

On paper they are more than capable though, with Devine and Bates likely to anchor the batting order and the likes of Amelia Kerr and Maddy Green expected to provide the guile through the middle overs.

Don't be surprised to see young gun Georgia Plimmer given a chance with the bat too, given the 18-year-old looked to be in good touch when finishing as the fifth leading run scorer during last month's inaugural ICC Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup in South Africa and will already be used to the conditions.

NZ Women's T20WC squad

The White Ferns' bowling attack will be led by underrated pacer Lea Tahuhu, but she will need to get some support from Hannah Rowe and the Kerr sisters (Amelia and Jess).

Reaching the semi-finals will be the minimum expected from this talented New Zealand squad and any further progression than reaching the final four will be seen as an added bonus.