Proteas batsman Aiden Markram is looking forward to facing Ireland in the first T20I in Bristol on Wednesday.

The Proteas come into the two-match T20I series with confidence having beaten England 2-1 in the series between the teams.

“I think it will be a new and exciting challenge for us,” said Markram, who made 51* off 36 balls in the third T20I against England, which the visitors won by 90 runs.

“We played them quite recently in Ireland and we saw exactly what they could do and they’re certainly a team that is improving series by series.

“I think it’s just about us now working on our plans and trusting those plans that we’ve now got in place and have been working for us.

“We know that if we take care of our space and play at the right intensity, then with the right plans in place hopefully that’s enough to get us over the line again against Ireland.”

Markram, who missed the T20I series in India because of Covid-19, had to watch the first two matches of the series against England from the sidelines as the selectors gave playing opportunities to Rilee Rossouw, Reeza Hendricks and Tristan Stubbs ahead of the T20 World Cup.

“The form we saw from Rilee, Reeza and Tristan is exciting for us as a team and it creates some good competition among the squad which is certainly something healthy for us to have,” Markram said.

Regarding his role in the team, he added: “If I come in after them I’ll play as the situation needs me to. If they start well with good intensity then it will mean coming in and matching that intensity and, if not, then adding more intensity.

“It’s great to have those guys in front of me in good form, guys putting their hand up in different games and it’s exciting for us as a squad to have that around us.”

Wednesday’s match will start at 7:30pm (SA time).