Luus relishing new role as Proteas aim high at T20 World Cup

South Africa all-rounder Sune Luus is enjoying her new role as opener in the Proteas' T20I setup and is hoping it can help her side claim a maiden title at this year's ICC Women's T20 World Cup.

Luus has primarily batted in the middle-order for the majority of her 295-game international career, but was moved to the top of the order at the end of last year to partner skipper and regular opener Laura Wolvaardt and the new partnership has already started to blossom.

The pair put on 106 for the opening wicket in the second match of South Africa's five-game series at home against India on Sunday, with the Proteas hopeful the new-look partnership at the top of the order will prosper even further at the upcoming T20 World Cup that commences in England and Wales on June 12.

"I'm still new to the opening scene, but it's a lot of fun," Luus said after scoring an excellent 57 during South Africa's eight-wicket victory over India in Durban.

"I think with Laura, as my partner there, I think she brings a wealth of experience as well. So I think just to be batting with her in the middle, facing an opposition like India doesn't get any better than that."

While Luus has reached double figures in every one of her innings since the move to the top of the order, the 30-year-old is yet to go on and register a massive score despite the fact she has two half-centuries to her name over the last six months.

The right-hander is happy with how she has been hitting the ball and believes it will only be a matter of time before contributes a big score for her side.

"I think I've been hitting the ball well all season," Luus continued.

"I think it's been frustrating not to get those big scores for me. But it's been awesome just to contribute in every single game that I've been a part of and just to keep hitting the ball as well as I can.

"It's only a matter of time when knocks like these are going to come out."

That big knock may arrive sooner rather than later based on Luus' recent efforts, with the veteran likely to get another chance to show her capabilities as opener when the third match of the ongoing series with India takes place in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

While Luus knows a series triumph against India is a feat that should be celebrated if they can open up an unassailable advantage, the former South Africa captain knows the major goal is winning the T20 World Cup trophy at Lord's at the start of July.

"It's a big game on Wednesday to secure the series for us and we'll be looking at that," she added.

"But at the end of the day, it's another game to prepare for the (T20) World Cup and we're taking it like that."

Series Schedule

First T20I, April 17 - Kingsmead, Durban (South Africa won by six wickets)
Second T20I, April 19 - Kingsmead, Durban (South Africa won by eight wickets)
Third T20I, April 22 - Wanderers, Johannesburg
Fourth T20I, April 25 - Wanderers, Johannesburg
Fifth T20I, April 27 - Willowmoore Park, Benoni