Just four days after being put in a hopeless spin by Alana King in their hammering by the Aussies, the Proteas rebounded gloriously in Wednesday's first semi-final, as captain Laura Wolvaardt played one of the great World Cup innings to inspire them to a 125-run triumph over England in Guwahati.
Wolvaardt, who scored 169 off 143 balls to lead the South Africans to an imposing 7-319, then handed the reins to evergreen allrounder Marizanne Kapp, whose 5-20, following her hard-hitting 42, made her the most successful bowler in World Cup history and helped skittle England for 194 off just 42.3 overs.
Wolvaardt's tour de force has pushed South Africa to their second successive global final after reaching the T20 World Cup showdown last year, and they'll be hoping to go one better than their loss to New Zealand in Dubai last October.
Australia had defeated the South Africans in their final group contest by seven wickets on Sunday with legspinner King enjoying record World Cup figures of 7-18.
If the still unbeaten champions can defeat India in the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday, there'll be a rematch in Sunday's final at the same venue, with South Africa playing their first 50-over global final.
It's an alluring prospect for Alyssa Healy's side, with Australia boasting an incredible record against the Proteas, having lost just one of their 19 completed ODI matches.
But this was a day at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium to remind everyone of how good they can be - especially when their gifted captain is in full flow.
The 26-year-old Wolvaardt compiled 20 fours and four sixes in her 10th ODI century, the second highest individual World Cup score by a captain, after Australian Belinda Clark's 229no against Denmark in 1997 as South Africa made their highest World Cup score.
She felt it was the "top knock" of her career. "It still feels a bit unreal," she smiled.
"The sort of thing you dream as a kid, scoring 100 in a World Cup, a knockout game as well. It is a very special day and I am very glad we have won in the end.
"We knew the start would be crucial, but I wanted to bat deeper, maybe get to the 40th over, that was my goal."
Kapp was a record-breaker too, her 44 wickets now eclipsing the all-time record of India's Jhulan Goswami (43).
This South Africa side can work in mysterious ways. In the league stage against England, they were bowled out for just 69, while Australia skittled them for 97. This time, though, they were rampant.
Wolvaardt put on 116 for openers with Tazmin Brits (45) and another brisk 72 with Kapp.
But spin ace Sophie Ecclestone, whose fitness had been in doubt over a bowling shoulder issue, led England's fightback with 4-44.
Yet once she was out of the way, Wolvaardt made hay as, helped largely by Chloe Tryon (33no), South Africa plundered 117 off the final 10 overs.
When Wolvaardt finally holed out in the 48th over off Lauren Bell, the sporting England players made a point of going over and congratulating the South African on her epic knock.
When England replied, the match felt done after just seven deliveries as England fell to 1-3, with their top-three all going for ducks.
Kapp began with a two-wicket maiden over, dismissing Amy Jones and Heather Knight, while Ayabonga Khaka removed Tammy Beaumont.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt (64) and Alice Capsey (50) battled to save the day but Kapp got the big wicket of the skipper, before getting rid of Sophia Dunkley and Charlie Dean in successive deliveries to effectively seal the deal.
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