Cara Murray admits representing Ireland at a T20 World Cup is the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition, but the leg-spinner insists both she and the team are determined to achieve much more.

The 25-year-old recently passed the milestone of 100 international appearances and has climbed to fifth on Ireland Women's all-time wicket-taking list, underlining her status as one of the most important figures in the current squad.

Tonight's clash with New Zealand in Southampton carries extra significance for Murray. Her first T20 international came against the White Ferns back in 2018, yet she has not faced them again in the eight years since. Now she has the chance to help Ireland secure a first-ever Women's T20 World Cup victory and a maiden win over New Zealand in any format.

Reflecting on the tournament so far, Murray said the experience had exceeded expectations.

"I've really enjoyed the trip so far," she said. "It's been a fantastic experience to be part of a World Cup and represent Ireland on such a big stage.

"The atmosphere at the games has been brilliant and definitely a highlight has been playing in front of passionate crowds and seeing the support for Irish cricket in both of the games so far."

Ireland's encouraging performance against England has boosted confidence within the camp, despite defeat.

"Everyone is feeling positive after the performance against England," Murray said. "We were really pleased with how we went about things with the ball and in the field and felt we competed well for long periods against one of the top sides in the competition.

"I think Aimee Maguire and Orla Prendergast got us off to a brilliant start in the powerplay with the ball, which helped create energy and a real buzz around the group from the outset."

While encouraged by the display, Murray knows improvements are needed if Ireland are to take the next step.

"At the same time, we understand we've got more to give with the bat if we want to get over the line against teams like that at a World Cup.

"There were plenty of positives to take from the game, but we know there are areas we can improve as well. We feel like we're not far away from getting that first win."

Murray herself arrives at the tournament in good form after making subtle adjustments to her bowling action.

"The change is more about bowling with a flatter trajectory than bowling quicker," she explained. "At the moment I feel like I'm bowling in really good areas consistently and I'm in a good rhythm, which gives me confidence to be a bit more proactive.

"The idea is to make it a little harder for batters to line me up and to keep them under pressure while still trying to hit my areas and be as consistent as possible."

The venue also holds special significance. Southampton is home to Hampshire, where the late Shane Warne spent four seasons and whose name now adorns one of the stands at the ground.

Like countless young leg-spinners, Murray grew up studying the Australian great.

"Shane Warne was someone I looked up to a lot growing up," she said. "I spent plenty of time watching clips of him and trying to learn from what he did.

"To be out there playing at Hampshire with the Shane Warne Stand overlooking the ground is a really cool experience. It's a nice reminder of the impact he had on the game and the inspiration he gave to so many spin bowlers around the world."

While individual milestones have come thick and fast, Murray remains focused on the bigger picture. Passing 100 caps and moving into fifth place on Ireland's wicket-taking charts are achievements she treasures, but they are not her primary motivation.

"It's something I'm really proud of," she said. "Every cricketer dreams of representing their country just once, so to have played over 100 games for Ireland is incredibly special.

"When I look back on my career so far, I'm proud of the experiences I've had, the people I've met and the chance to be part of some great moments for Irish cricket. At the same time, I still feel like I've got plenty more to give."

Indeed, Murray was unaware she had overtaken Eimear Richardson to move into fifth place on the all-time list.

"To be honest, I didn't actually know that," she laughed.

"It's obviously nice to hear and something I'm proud of when you consider the number of quality players who have represented Ireland over the years. But my main focus has always been on contributing to the team and helping Ireland win games whenever I can."

That team-first mentality sums up Murray perfectly. Personal records are welcome, but her priority remains helping Ireland create history on the World Cup stage and continuing to push women's cricket to new heights.