Georgia Voll kept wicket against Netherlands while Beth Mooney nursed some tightness in her back which prompted her to retire hurt on 74 in a move Australia said was precautionary, while Ash Gardner bounced back with a half-century after missing the nine-wicket win over Bangladesh due to a sprained ankle.

Wareham was named Player of the Tournament at the last WBBL after finishing the season for Melbourne Renegades as the competition’s leading wicket-taker with 19 at 10.94 and an economy of 5.47 and scoring 277 runs in the middle order at 39.57 and a strike rate of 147.34. She also enjoyed a good ODI series in the Caribbean in March, with two Player-of-the-Match awards and a superior strike rate.

“We all know what she’s capable of. She’s had a really good 12 months and was excellent again [against Netherlands]. She’s playing a really critical role there for us through the middle.

“We always talk about our depth, and I think we’ve had to test that a little bit at times, and it’s been really good to see people step up and have a winning innings or just take control of the game as well.”

Australia have endured a gruelling travel schedule at this World Cup, starting their campaign in Manchester before heading to Leeds, then traversing the length of the country to Southampton then back to Leeds by coach. And Mooney has attributed her back soreness to long stretches of time spent on the road.

“We know how important she is to us and just when she started getting some tightness in her back, it wasn’t worth risking her,” Nitschke said. “She plays a big role for us with the gloves as well, so there is an element of precaution at times. In a World Cup you’ve just got to weigh everything up and work out what’s worth the risk and what’s not worth the risk.”

With three wins from three and a final group-stage game against India at Lord’s on Sunday looming, Australia can – and must – take a good deal of calculation into their risk-taking at this point.

Sana scored an unbeaten 55 off 38 balls and took 3 for 16 in 2.5 overs to send an almighty scare through the South Africa camp but Marizanne Kapp’s all-round effort saw the Proteas home by two wickets. Sana’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed by Australia.

“She’s been outstanding,” Nitschke said. “Since she’s stepped into the captaincy role, she’s really grown as an allrounder and one of the world’s best at T20 cricket. We haven’t had a chance to get our plans ready.

“We’ve got a five-hour bus trip, so there’s a bit of an opportunity for us to have a look at that. But we certainly know that she’s the sort of player we need to be well planned for and be able to execute against her because she’s showing that she can take a game away from a team.”

Of the lessons from losing to Bangladesh, Muneeba said: “When I was settled in, I should probably have finished that match, but unfortunately when wickets fall we have a cluster of wickets in the last three games.

“That is the main thing we need to rectify and identify what we were doing in those situations. Are we not taking good, right decisions mentally in those pressure times? That is what we have talked about and we will try to rectify.”